The EU’s controversial trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc could yet be stopped by the European Parliament, the Irish Farmers’ Association has predicted.
Today, the European Council approved the deal that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has argued will “open new trade and economic opportunities for all our Member States”.
While Ireland, France, Poland, Austria and Hungary opposed the deal and Belgium abstained, 20 other EU nations threw their support behind the agreement.
The Irish Government only announced their opposition yesterday, citing concern about the impact on farmers.
Speaking ahead of the vote on Newstalk Breakfast, IFA President Francie Gorman explained that the vote in the European Council is one hurdle the deal must pass before ratification.
“I suppose the three countries that would have been important in this are France, Poland and Italy,” he said.
“And unfortunately, the Italians didn't come on board to oppose this deal.
“So, it looks likely to be passed at council today but to be clear, the battle will then move to the European Parliament.”
View this post on Instagram
Mr Gorman noted that the European Parliament is “very divided” on the issue and a majority of MEPs could yet be persuaded to reject the deal.
“I've always believed that the best chance of defeating it would be in the European Parliament,” he said.
“So, it will move there for final ratification sometime in the next month.”
View this post on Instagram
For years, farmers across Europe have warned the deal would lead to an influx of cheap Brazilian beef, raised in a country with low animal welfare standards.
“This deal is in the offing for 25 years and if it was such a great deal for everybody, it would have been passed and gone through a long, long time ago,” Mr Gorman argued.
“And to be clear, it's our job in the Irish Farmers Association to represent our members and farmers.
“And from an economics point of view, it's going to have a huge impact, I believe, on the economics at farm level.”
When the final vote in the European Parliament does take place, there could be at least one Irish MEP voting in favour of it.
Fianna Fáil MEP for Dublin Barry Andrews has said the debate in Ireland has “focused exclusively on beef”, adding other industries such as pharmaceuticals, technology and chemicals would “obviously benefit” from Mercosur.
Main image: A split of the European Parliament and Brazilian cows. Pictures by: Alamy.com.
