Thousands of Irish farmers, many of whom travelled across the country on tractors, protested yesterday against the European Union’s Mercosur trade deal after a majority of EU states gave a provisional go-ahead for its largest ever free-trade accord.
Opponents led by France, the EU’s largest agricultural producer, failed to convince enough fellow member states on Friday that the deal with South American nations would flood the market with cheap food products and undercut domestic farmers.
Under pressure from opposition parties, farming groups and members of its own coalition, the Irish government argued the deal lacks safeguards on what it says are weaker food safety standards in South America.
“It’s an absolute disgrace on behalf of the farmers and people that have put Europe where it is today,” said Joe Keogh, a farmer from the central village of Multyfarnham at the protest in the nearby town of Athlone.
“It’s going to close down the whole countryside.”
Protesters held placards reading “Don’t sacrifice family farms for German cars”, “Our cows follow the rules, why don’t theirs”, and “Sell out”.
The demonstration, large by Irish standards, followed similar protests in Poland, France and Belgium on Friday.
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