Govt Must Continue to Oppose Mercosur Deal Despite CAP Offer

IFA President Francie Gorman said that the Irish Government must continue to oppose the Mercosur trade agreement despite the latest move by the EU Commission to link it to CAP funding. 

The IFA President dismissed the latest ploy by the Commission to get Member States on board for the Mercosur trade deal by making a convoluted proposal on CAP funding.

Ahead of a potential vote of EU Member State Ambassadors on Friday as part of the ratification process, Francie Gorman said the Government must hold firm on its commitment in the Programme for Government and vote no to Mercosur.

“Trying to link Mercosur to the CAP smacks of desperation and shows the Mercosur deal cannot stand on its own two feet. The two are separate issues and should remain so,” he said.

Francie Gorman said he has been in contact with the President of COPA Massimiliano Giansanto ahead of an urgent meeting of the COPA Presidency tomorrow. This meeting will further co-ordinate farmer opposition to the deal, following COPA and IFA’s successful protest in Brussels last month which led to the Member State vote being postponed. 

“This deal is bad for Irish farmers and very damaging for public health, based on the findings of the IFA/Farmers Journal investigation two months ago and the recent Brazilian beef recall due to the presence of hormones. The Government cannot countenance any position that would offer any sign of support for this deal,” he said.

Francie Gorman said whatever happens this week, the European Parliament still has to ratify this deal. “Farmers will expect Irish MEPs to oppose this deal and to work with colleagues to build opposition to it.”