EU farming ministers are meeting in Denmark to discuss the future of the Common Agricultural Policy just days after the European Commission put forward a trade deal with Mercosur.
Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, will attend the meetings.
Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Council.
Speaking ahead of the meeting in Copenhagen, Minister Heydon said:
“This meeting provides a timely opportunity to engage with my EU counterparts in the context of the proposals published by the Commission in July for the next EU Budget (MFF) and CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) post-2027. Those proposals are just the starting point in a lengthy negotiating process.”
“My priorities for the next CAP remain unchanged: a CAP that is more straightforward for farmers; more flexible and responsive; with an appropriate balance between economic, social and environmental sustainability; and with an adequate budget for an effective CAP.”
The EU-Mercosur trade deal will create the biggest free trade zone in the world with 700 million consumer, if it is confirmed.
It will mean a cut to trade tariffs on imports from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The European Commission says the deal will bring jobs and extra opportunity to EU businesses, including firms based in Ireland.
But the Irish government has continued to raise concerns about the deal, fearing that it will lead to south American beef overwhelming and under cutting Irish farmers.
“The Irish position on Mercosur is well known”, said Minister Heydon.
“Along with the Tánaiste who has lead responsibility for trade policy, I have actively engaged with both the European Commission and with Agriculture Ministers across the EU to voice Ireland’s concerns.
I have repeatedly emphasised that beef is a very sensitive sector which is vulnerable to negative impacts from the Mercosur Agreement.”
The European Commission says the trade deal puts limits of south American beef imports at 99,000 tonnes.
Even those imports will still face a limited tariff of 7.5 percent, down from between 40 to 50 percent for other beef imports.
The EU also says there will be safeguard mechanism that could kick in if trade flows indicate Irish farmers could be jeopardised.
So far those reassurances do not seem to have convinced the Irish government, nor the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
IFA President Francie Gorman, said it was a “watershed moment” for farmers.
“At every opportunity, we have raised [concerns] with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Agriculture.
During the last General Election, we had their backing to oppose the deal and that commitment has to stand. Failure to do so would amount to reneging on what has been promised,” he said.