Most Europeans remain unaware that a looming free trade agreement could flood Europe with unsafe and environmentally damaging food from South American countries. However, the EU is on the cusp of reaching an agreement to secure the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement if action is not taken now, especially from Polish, French, and other EU farmers.
Those in Poland seeking to protect the interest of farmers are raising the alarm, including former Law and Justice MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, who wrote on X: “Fear of a French farmers’ revolt has hung over Brussels in the final stretch before the ratification of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement,” he wrote while quoting the European Conservative article.
Citing a report from press outlet European Conservative, which details the headaches Emmanuel Macron could face from French farmers if the trade deal passes, Saryusz-Wolski writes that Poland could also play a pivotal role in the free trade agreement. He believes the ruling government should reject the agreement.
“The position of the Polish government may be crucial for the final decision, due to Poland’s population weight in the double voting system in the EU Council. Germany, whose industry is to be the main beneficiary of the agreement, wants support from Tusk’s government. The Sejm should prevent and exclude such support by means of an appropriate act,” Saryusz-Wolski further wrote.
The deal could serve as a severe blow to farmers across Europe, resulting in cheap meat and produce imports from South America, where standards are notably lax when it comes to pesticide and GMO use.
While the EU insists on the issue of climate protection, the deal will also turbocharge destructive agricultural practices in South America, where enforcement of environmental protection remains weak. Tens of millions of acres of rainforest have been destroyed to make way for cattle grazing and monocrop cultivation of soybeans and other cash crops, but with the lucrative EU market opened up, it could create a frenzy to destroy even more rainforest and convert it to agricultural use.
In contrast, European farmers are already struggling under high costs, regulations, and standards that ensure quality food products, but which are increasingly leading to bankruptcy due to unfair competition from low-cost countries like Ukraine, among other reasons. Cynics also argue that many of these bankruptcies are encouraged, as it allows big agribusiness players to buy up European farms for cheap, consolidate, degrade standards, and reap record profits.
Jacek Saryusz-Wolski notes that the ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement requires the consent of at least 15 member states, representing 65 percent of the EU population.
“This ratification requires the support of at least 15 Member States = 55%, representing over 65% of the EU population. The EC is pushing for a quick ratification of the agreement with Mercosur. It is expected that the final legally verified text of the agreement signed in Uruguay in December 2024 by von der Leyen will be ready before July!”
Saryusz-Wolski notes that without France, there are doubts whether the agreement can pass, as France already scuttled the deal in 2019.
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