Thousands of farmers in Ireland protested against the EU-MERCOSUR agreement

Thousands of Irish farmers have protested against the potential conclusion of a large-scale trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the economic bloc of five South American countries MERCOSUR. This was reported by the Reuters news agency on January 10.

"This is an absolute disgrace to the farmers and people who are responsible for Europe's current state. <...> It's paralyzing the whole countryside," farmer Joe Kiog from the central village of Maltifarnham said at a protest in the nearby town of Athlone.

The protesters held placards reading: "Don't sacrifice family farms for German cars" and "Our cows follow the rules, why don't their cows follow?"

"Irish farmers are already in great danger. We are a small country, we do not have large farms, and it is difficult for farmers to earn a living. But it's also about the quality of the food we eat. This has serious consequences for both farmers and consumers," said Niamh O'Brien, a farmer from the western city of Athenry.

Under pressure from opposition parties, farming groups and members of its own coalition, the Irish government has said the trade agreement lacks safeguards against lax food safety standards in South America.

The protest demonstrations in Ireland followed similar actions in Poland, France and Belgium.

The day before, the head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, announced that the EU countries had approved a controversial trade agreement with MERCOSUR. According to Costa, the agreement will bring "concrete benefits" to consumers and producers in Europe, strengthen farmers' rights and shape the new EU economy. The signing of the deal, according to Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, will take place on January 17 in Paraguay.

At the same time, the European Organization of Farmers and Agricultural Cooperatives, COPA —COGECA, stated that the EU—MERCOSUR agreement, despite recent adjustments to protective measures, remains fundamentally unbalanced and fundamentally flawed. COPA—COGECA drew particular attention to the decision of the EU Council to withdraw the declaration, which guaranteed that the agreement would temporarily not be applied before the EP had time to speak.

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