Mercosur trade deal approved by EU countries

European Union ambassadors have have approved the Mercosur Trade Agreement at a meeting in Brussels this morning.

Ireland, France, Poland, Austria and Hungary opposed the deal, while Belgium abstained.

The rest of the EU member states, including Italy, approved the deal.

The landmark trade deal between the European Union and a block of South American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay has been vehemently opposed by farming organisations in Ireland and across Europe with protests taking place this morning in Italy and France.

A protest organised by Independent Ireland is to take place in Athlone tomorrow with an Garda Siochana warning motorists to expect delays.

Meath IFA Chair Dermot Ward has expressed his disappointment that the deal has been pushed through and said the implications it would have down the line would be huge.

"There are 300,000 people employed in the agfood sector in Ireland. That is a lot of families. It is not just going to affect farmers it will affect whole communities."

Mr Ward, who will be attending tomorrow's protest in Athlone, said they are very concerned about the health impact of imported beef and chicken that has been hormone and anti-biotic treated, particularly for young children and older people.

"All farmers are obliged by law to adhere to very strict animal health rules and traceability and with the strike of a pen that changes. It's the double standards."

The next stage will see the deal voted on by the European Parliament.

Reacting to today's vote approving the Mercosur deal, ICSA president Sean McNamara has said the decision by the European Council to vote in favour of the Mercosur trade agreement amounts to a green light for the importation of food products that the EU cannot fully stand over and can never guarantee are 100 per cent safe for European consumers.

“Today’s vote sends a dangerous message. The European Council is prepared to allow in imports produced using practices that are outright banned for Irish and European farmers. That is beyond reckless,” he said.

Mr McNamara said it was deeply concerning that a qualified majority of member states chose to push the deal through regardless of the risks to farmers, consumers and the credibility of the EU’s food safety standards. “The Council is essentially green-flagging produce it cannot certify to the same standard and cannot honestly guarantee is safe. The fact that they are prepared to put farmers out of business and put the health of European consumers at risk for the sake of this grubby deal is a total disgrace,” he said.

Mr McNamara said the focus must now shift immediately to the European Parliament. “The battle is far from over, but it is now entering its most critical phase. Irish MEPs must step up now, reject this deal and actively work within their political groupings to build the opposition needed to stop it.”

He said farmers and the wider public need to make their voices heard on this issue. “ICSA will be at the protest in Athlone tomorrow, and we are calling on farmers, agri-businesses and concerned consumers to come out, stand up and make their voices heard. Political pressure matters, and silence will be taken as consent.”

Meanwhile, IFA President Francie Gorman said the outcome of today’s meeting of EU Ambassadors for the latest part of approving the Mercosur deal is very disappointing.

"This was a very narrow margin with countries representing a sizeable proportion of the EU population – 31.3 per cent – not supporting the deal, which is something the EU Commission has to be concerned about.

"This still requires approval by the EU Parliament, and we will renew our focus with our colleagues in COPA to secure a majority against the deal in the Parliament.

“This morning’s outcome shows that the Irish Government was not alone in expressing deep reservations about the deal and what it means for farmers and public health. The Commission cannot ignore the scale of the opposition to the deal,” he said.

Francie Gorman acknowledged the stance taken by the Irish Government. “Clearly, the late push by the Commission on so-called safeguards and unrelated elements of agri policy did not work. The investigation carried out by IFA and the Irish Farmers Journal late last year shows that Brazil does not have control systems that are fit for purpose.”

The next stage is the vote in the European Parliament in the coming weeks. “Our campaign will now focus on MEPs. We expect Irish MEPs to stand behind the farming community and reject the Mercosur deal.”

“Our MEPs now have a crucial role to play in building alliances within their groupings and amongst colleagues from other countries to build opposition to the deal. IFA will work with our colleagues in COPA between now and the Parliament vote,” he concluded.

With a major protest planned for Athlone tomorrow, Gardai are warning motorists to expect delays.

In a statement, An Garda Síochána said it understands that the assembly will involve a number of elements including:

• a convoy of mainly agricultural vehicles from the N61 Roscommon Road, along the N6 travelling eastbound from Junction 12 to Junction 10, and along the N55 towards the R916, Cornamaddy roundabout

• a march from vicinity of Junction 9 N6 along the R916 to TUS Athlone

• a rally/speeches at TUS Athlone

It is expected that there will be significant additional traffic, including slow moving vehicles, in the N6 area, from Junction 12 to Junction 10, in the morning and over the course of Saturday 10th January 2026.

It is not intended that the N6 eastbound will be closed.

Members of the public travelling in the affected areas of the N6 Athlone on the 10th January 2026 are asked to plan their journeys during this period to ensure to leave enough time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect some localised delays.

There will be additional traffic, parking and pedestrians in the vicinity of the N55 Cornamaddy roundabout, R916 and environs of TUS Athlone from early morning until the Public Assembly finishes in the afternoon.

While farming organisations have expressed their disappointment over the agreement being approved, the deal has been welcomed by Chambers Ireland who described it as a great opportunity for the Irish economy and a welcome boost for free, open trade.

Speaking today, Chief Executive Ian Talbot highlighted the importance of the agreement for businesses in Ireland and across the EU:

“The approval of the Mercosur agreement marks a decisive moment for Irish and EU businesses. It will help stabilise the trade environment and build much-needed resilience into our supply chains. In a time of ongoing geopolitical instability and the lingering effects of tariffs, this agreement will help reduce vulnerabilities and create new opportunities for Irish exporters. Protection of investments and Intellectual Property are also important elements.”

He emphasised the strategic value of the deal:

“Forging strong partnerships with key markets is the cornerstone of the EU’s free trade agenda. The success of the EU-Canada (CETA) agreement has already shown how new Free Trade Agreements can open up new supply chains for critical raw materials and reduce our reliance on traditional markets. The Mercosur agreement, given the size and scale of the market involved, will deliver even greater benefits - including for Ireland’s agri-food sector, which now has improved access to up to 280 million new consumers."