EU-Mercosur Agreement will take effect from tomorrow

Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said that the EU-Mercosur Agreement will take effect from tomorrow, Friday, May 1, without approval from the European Parliament.

The trade agreement was much contested here in Ireland, with protests across the country opposing the deal. As well as this, nine MEPs voted to refer the EU-Mercosur Trade agreement to the ECJ.

At the time, Maria Walsh had warned that referring to the European Court of Justice risked fast tracking the deal rather than pausing it.

From tomorrow, the trade elements of the deal are set to take effect.

Maria Walsh said: “The trade elements of the Mercosur deal are set to apply for Irish farmers from tomorrow, without a full vote on the deal in the European Parliament. This outcome is due in no small part to the decision by some MEPs to refer it to the European Court of Justice earlier this year.

“While I strongly oppose the Commission’s decision to provisionally terminate the deal, it comes as no surprise. I warned my fellow MEPs that referring Mercosur to the ECJ would not block the deal – it would only change the route by which it comes into force.

“Many MEPs will now express anger at the implementation of Mercosur. However, these same voices must reflect on the consequences of their actions and the decisions that led us to this point. The referral has not delayed the deal - it has accelerated it. And in doing so, it has increased uncertainty for Irish farmers and the wider agri-food sector.”