The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve an amended version of the proposed safeguard elements of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, paving the way for the deal to be put to MEPs for a final crunch vote.
A rejection of the safeguards would have delayed the final ratification vote on the Mercosur deal by requiring the Parliament’s committees to reopen these safeguards to further scrutiny.
MEPs’ backing of the safeguards does not necessarily indicate support for the deal as a whole.
Fine Gael MEP Ninan Carbery stated on Tuesday that she remains “very clear” in opposing the deal, but that she voted to approve the safeguards as a “series of measures to protect our farmers - a safety net in the case that the Mercosur deal is approved”.
Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen had said before Tuesday’s vote that he too opposes the deal, but is also working to “secure the strongest possible compensatory package for Irish farmers” as a backstop in the event the deal passes.
The safeguards set out the conditions under which the European Commission would investigate whether Mercosur products, like beef, are responsible for a collapse in EU prices.
However, they contain little detail on what level of disruption would be needed for action to be taken to lift tariffs to attempt to control the flow Mercosur products.
The Parliament’s committee on international trade had looked to strengthen two areas of the safeguards proposed for the deal before Tuesday’s vote.
Changes
These changes would require the Commission to publish detailed reports on the market impact of Mercosur goods every three months, where it had looked to issue these reports every six months.
They would also trigger a formal investigation into the market impacts of Mercosur products if EU prices drop by 5%, while the Commission had looked for a 10% price reduction threshold.
This weekend, France announced that it will look to delay a key vote of EU member states due to take place this week on ratifying the deal.
Speculation is mounting that Italy is also seeking the same delay.
A delay to Thursday's vote would shake up a major European Commission summit with Mercosur countries due to take place this weekend.
Several thousands of EU farmers are to take to the streets in Brussels as this meeting of EU heads of state is to take place on Thursday.
Farm groups are to protest the Mercosur deal in addition to other issues, such as proposed cuts to the next CAP budget.
It remains uncertain whether a sufficient number of member states intend to vote to reject the Mercosur deal when it is put to a vote of EU countries to block it from taking effect if the deal as a whole gets MEPs’ backing.
Read more
France demands delay on signing Mercosur trade deal
Brazilian beef with banned hormones enters EU foodchain
Italy poised to join France in bid to block Mercosur
The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve an amended version of the proposed safeguard elements of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, paving the way for the deal to be put to MEPs for a final crunch vote.
A rejection of the safeguards would have delayed the final ratification vote on the Mercosur deal by requiring the Parliament’s committees to reopen these safeguards to further scrutiny.
MEPs’ backing of the safeguards does not necessarily indicate support for the deal as a whole.
Fine Gael MEP Ninan Carbery stated on Tuesday that she remains “very clear” in opposing the deal, but that she voted to approve the safeguards as a “series of measures to protect our farmers - a safety net in the case that the Mercosur deal is approved”.
Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen had said before Tuesday’s vote that he too opposes the deal, but is also working to “secure the strongest possible compensatory package for Irish farmers” as a backstop in the event the deal passes.
The safeguards set out the conditions under which the European Commission would investigate whether Mercosur products, like beef, are responsible for a collapse in EU prices.
However, they contain little detail on what level of disruption would be needed for action to be taken to lift tariffs to attempt to control the flow Mercosur products.
The Parliament’s committee on international trade had looked to strengthen two areas of the safeguards proposed for the deal before Tuesday’s vote.
Changes
These changes would require the Commission to publish detailed reports on the market impact of Mercosur goods every three months, where it had looked to issue these reports every six months.
They would also trigger a formal investigation into the market impacts of Mercosur products if EU prices drop by 5%, while the Commission had looked for a 10% price reduction threshold.
This weekend, France announced that it will look to delay a key vote of EU member states due to take place this week on ratifying the deal.
Speculation is mounting that Italy is also seeking the same delay.
A delay to Thursday's vote would shake up a major European Commission summit with Mercosur countries due to take place this weekend.
Several thousands of EU farmers are to take to the streets in Brussels as this meeting of EU heads of state is to take place on Thursday.
Farm groups are to protest the Mercosur deal in addition to other issues, such as proposed cuts to the next CAP budget.
It remains uncertain whether a sufficient number of member states intend to vote to reject the Mercosur deal when it is put to a vote of EU countries to block it from taking effect if the deal as a whole gets MEPs’ backing.
Read more
France demands delay on signing Mercosur trade deal
Brazilian beef with banned hormones enters EU foodchain
Italy poised to join France in bid to block Mercosur
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