Mercosur, Eurocamera green light for safeguard mechanism for farmers

Brussels – As tractors of French and Belgian farmers head to the EU capital for a demonstration scheduled for Thursday, 18 December, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approves the safeguard mechanism for agricultural imports that would complement the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. It does so by a large majority of 431 votes in favour, 161 against, and 70 abstentions. In addition to the possibility of suspending concessions on certain sensitive products in the event of import surges, the European Parliament adopted an amendment to introduce a reciprocity mechanism.

“We are on the side of the farmers, but I think it should also be recognised that this is the first time in the history of the European Union where we are making specific legislation for guarantees in the implementation of a trade agreement. This is a great proof that we are doing our utmost to protect the agricultural sector,” said the leader of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, before the vote this morning. The European Parliament essentially confirmed the position adopted by the Committee on International Trade (INTA) last week.

The text amends the European Commission’s proposal and calls for Brussels to initiate investigations into the need for protection measures when imports of sensitive products – such as poultry or beef – increase by an average of 5 percent over a three-year period (compared to 10 percent annually). For MEPs, such investigations should take from three to six months generally, and from two to four in the case of sensitive products.

The most significant amendment to the Brussels proposal relates to the principle of reciprocity, which has been so often invoked by several EU capitals – primarily France and Italy – and by agricultural associations across half of Europe. In essence, the Commission should be able to take safeguard measures “where there is credible evidence that imports benefiting from tariff preferences do not meet equivalent environmental, animal welfare, health, food safety, or labour protection requirements applicable to producers in the EU.”

It was not enough to secure the backing of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) – of which Fratelli d’Italia, which abstained, is a part – and Patriots for Europe, led by the French Rassemblement National, and to which the League also belongs. For the League delegation, the measures proposed to protect European farmers from competition from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay are “cosmetic fixes, without concrete solutions.” In a statement, the League warns of the risk of “an invasion of cheap products that fail to meet the phytosanitary, social, and environmental standards imposed by the EU on our farmers.”

Of a different opinion is the Democratic Party delegation, which, in line with the Social Democrats, “wholeheartedly supports” the negotiating position adopted today. “Giorgia Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia, can no longer hide. We expect the Italian government to take its responsibilities and play its part in the Council,” the PD said in a note. Italy is likely to be decisive at the  EU Council vote count on Mercosur.