Speaking at a high-level COPA beef event in Brussels last week, attended by European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and agriculture ministers from across the EU, national livestock chair Angus Woods said there needs to be a much stronger and more robust defence of the European beef sector and family farm model of quality beef production in Europe.

The IFA livestock leader said direct payments in CAP are critically important to the incomes of livestock farmers and in Ireland make up over 100% of incomes on most beef farms. He said Commissioner Hogan must remain strong on defending the CAP budget and ensuring that direct payments in Pillar I and Pillar II are fully protected.

Meanwhile, speaking in the European Parliament, Angus Woods said the EU Commission has gone way too far in its excessive offer to Brazil and other South American countries and must be hauled back in. He warned that the EU policy around double standards will come back to bite the Commission.

“It is time European politicians showed some real mettle and stood up for the European Union and European farmers by strongly rejecting the EU Commission’s drive to negotiate a bad Mercosur deal, which involves the sellout of the beef sector and a policy of double standards on imports.”

Woods said national and European political leaders are too lenient on the European Commission and have allowed DG Trade to dictate the pace in these negotiations.

He said with 11 countries objecting to the latest offer from the EU, it is clear the Commission is moving way too fast and too far ahead of member states.

Woods complimented the stronger stance taken by President Macron of France and the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Woods said: “Given the uncertainty around Brexit, the Commission should withdraw from the Mercosur negotiations at this time.

‘‘The Commission should be showing more concern for EU farmers and rural Ireland. The future of the suckler herd is at stake and this sellout on beef is unacceptable.”