Cork IFA fears Mercosur deal could proceed 'in interim' following Wednesday's vote

The European Parliament’s decision to refer the Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has been described as “the right decision” by Cork Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

The EU-Mercosur partnership agreement is the deal proposed between the EU and the South American-based Mercosur trade countries which include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

On Wednesday, more than 600 MEPs assembled in Strasbourg to vote on the deal’s referral to the ECJ, with 334 voting in favour of the motion, and 324 opposing.

While this result could potentially see the implementation of the deal delayed by up to two years, Munster chairman of the IFA, Conor O’Leary, said pending approval of the trade conditions, the EU could still apply the agreement on an interim basis.

“I can say that we’re very relieved, and this development should provide some reassurance to farmers about the EU’s democratic structures,” Mr O’Leary said.

“The vote in the parliament will be delayed [now] until the findings come back from the ECJ, which could be somewhere between one and two years — [but] my belief in the meantime is that they could go ahead with it on an interim basis.

“It’s illogical to think this deal won’t put the price of our product under pressure, and I think the greater farmers’ anger is that we are so regulated here, at extreme standards, the highest in the world — and there’s no such traceability systems in Brazil.

“Farmers understand how we need tariff-free trade deals, but what’s coming in has to be produced to the same standard.”

IFA president and Bord Bia director, Francie Gorman, said this outcome lays down an important marker for how trade issues are negotiated.

“The referral was the right decision for this trade deal and future trade deals,” said Mr Gorman. “This is a great result — the ECJ will now test the deal and see if it stands up to scrutiny.

“For this, and for future trade deals, it is important that the legality is established before any further steps.

“The EU Commission has been too hasty in trying to push this through,” he added.

"The IFA will continue to work with our colleagues across Europe to have this deal set aside,” he added.