The European Milk Board asbl (EMB) strongly urges the European Commission and national governments to critically reassess the current developments surrounding the EU–Mercosur free trade agreement and to place the protection of farmers at the centre of their decisions.
We say clearly:
No to the Mercosur agreement!
No to agricultural products flooding our markets without sufficient control!
Our demands are based on the following key points:
1. Distorted competition and unequal standards
In 2024, around 43% of all Mercosur exports to the EU were agricultural products. Agricultural goods from the Mercosur bloc – consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – already account for a significant share of Mercosur imports. Structural differences in production conditions, standards and costs – such as lower labour costs and weaker environmental regulations – create unequal competitive conditions that place considerable pressure on family farms in the EU.
2. Insufficient controls already today
Despite existing rules, it remains highly questionable whether actual market flows are adequately controlled. European agriculture depends on reliable quality, health and environmental standards – particularly regarding animal welfare, pesticides and genetic engineering. Many of the current control mechanisms are too weak to prevent an influx of low-quality or unfairly produced agricultural imports. This concerns not only South American imports, but also, for example, imports from Ukraine.
3. Debunking the myth: “Mercosur = opportunity for European farmers”
Claims that Mercosur offers opportunities for European farmers – for example through an export boom from which they would benefit – are misleading. In export-oriented countries such as Ireland, it is already clear that trade with these regions does not benefit farmers. On the contrary, imports into this sensitive market and sector lead to overcapacity and increased price pressure.
4. Our demands to the European Commission
We call on the European Commission to:
Reject the Mercosur agreement;
Immediately evaluate and strengthen control mechanisms for agricultural imports from third countries, ensuring effective checks on health, environmental and social standards;
Ensure transparent publication of real market flows and the impacts of imports on farms;
Treat farmers’ interests as equal and essential in trade policy;
Take measures against overproduction to stabilise agricultural markets.
Our agriculture must not become a pawn of global market mechanisms!
