McGuinness voices Mercosur concerns

A local MEP has raised serious concerns about the negative impact an EU-Mercosur trade deal could have on the beef sector.

Speaking in the European Parliament yesterday,Mairead McGuinness MEP said she shared the concerns of many Member States about the tactics of the Commission.

'Beef is a sensitive product for the EU and any tariff rate quota offer will result in severe negative consequences for the EU beef sector and for rural Europe as a whole, where livestock production underpins many local and regional economies. 

To make such an offer in the very first round of the negotiations makes me fearful of what the Commission might eventually offer and agree to,' said McGuinness, a member of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee. 

'There is also a climatic consideration which is significant. If we displace locally produced EU beef by importing beef from South America we will be contributing in a very negative way to climate change concerns. 

'Furthermore, the EU has high and demanding standards when it comes to beef production around traceability and safety, which cannot be jettisoned by importing beef not subject to these standards.' 

In a letter sent to the Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmstrom, today, MEP McGuinness expressed her concerns that in a rush to reach an agreement, EU agriculture could be sacrificed, which would be unacceptable. 

The MEP urged Commissioner Malmstrom to take on board the seriousness of these issues: 'Mercosur is the latest trade deal up for discussion along with many other bilateral talks with trading partners including the US. I would be very concerned about the cumulative impact of the many trade talks underway and ask that you keep a close eye on this issue in order to ensure that trade agreements are fair and balanced for all sectors of the EU economy. 

'My concern and suspicion is that the EU may sacrifice the agriculture sector in return for gains in other non-agriculture sectors. Such an approach would be completely unacceptable. I urge you to take note of the concerns being expressed by member states and members of the European Parliament.'