Mercosur to be 'provisionally' applied from tomorrow

The controversial trade deal will take effect from Friday, May 1 without court decision

THE trade elements of the EU-Mercosur Agreement are set to take effect from tomorrow, Friday May 1st, without approval from the European Parliament.

The accelerated application of the Mercosur agreement follows a referral to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) earlier this year.

The European Parliament, whose approval is required, voted in ​January to challenge the agreement in the EU's top court, which could take up to two years to rule, but the European ⁠Commission decided to provisionally apply the deal from May 1.

In January, nine Irish MEPs voted to refer the EU–Mercosur trade agreement to the ECJ.

Supporters of the controversial trade deal including ‌Germany and Spain say the agreement will help compensate for the hit from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and reduce reliance on China for critical minerals.

France, Ireland and other critics argue it will increase imports of cheap beef and sugar and undercut domestic farmers.,

Environmentalists say it will increase rainforest destruction.

Midlands-West MEP Maria Walsh (FG) said that

MEP Maria Walsh, a full member of the Agriculture Committee, opposes the deal but says she is not surprised the Commission is provisionally implementing it.

MEP Walsh blames the decision to refer Mercosur to the courts.

“The trade elements of the Mercosur deal are set to apply for Irish farmers from tomorrow - without a full vote on the deal in the European Parliament. This outcome is due in no small part to the decision by some MEPs to refer it to the European Court of Justice earlier this year," MEP Walsh said.

“While I strongly oppose the Commission’s decision to provisionally element the deal, it comes as no surprise. I warned my fellow MEPs that referring Mercosur to the ECJ would not block the deal – it would only change the route by which it comes into force."