Hungary opposes EU-Mercosur trade agreement

(Photo: drnagyistvan.hu)

The minister recalled that the European Union would conclude the EU-Mercosur (members of which are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) trade agreement after almost two decades of negotiations. According to the European Commission, this agreement would open up a market worth hundreds of millions to European businesses and save billions of euros in customs duties annually. However, the agreement has many negative effects on European agriculture and also threatens farmers’ livelihoods, competitiveness and food security. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the opening of Brussels’ market to Ukraine and the simultaneous entry into force of the EU-Mercosur agreement would destabilize the entire European agriculture, added István Nagy. He explained that as a result of the agreement, agricultural products of questionable quality that do not comply with European production conditions, including plant and animal health standards, such as poultry and beef, and honey, would arrive in the EU in unmanageable quantities. Hungary continues to insist on the fundamental principle that products entering the European Union must also comply with EU rules on food produced in the EU, otherwise farmers here will be at a competitive disadvantage, which we cannot allow. But let us not forget that the world’s 2nd and 3rd largest GMO crop producers are Brazil and Argentina, 7th Paraguay and 10th Uruguay, so the spread of these countries’ crops in Europe and Hungary is contrary to Hungary’s GMO-free strategy – emphasized the Minister. István Nagy said that the informal meeting of the agriculture ministers in Copenhagen also creates a good opportunity for our country to continue searching for allies who also hold a similar position. Fortunately, we are not alone, as Austria, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Romania also object to the agreement. So, in cooperation with these member states, we must do everything to protect the interests of farmers – added István Nagy.

AM