MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU farmers led by France promise to lobby against concessions for Mercosur

Spanish minister Elena Espinosa says nothing has been decided yet

European Union Agriculture ministers will be debating Monday on the impact of Mercosur/EU trade negotiations and the overall EU farm sector competitiveness.

The Agriculture Council debate takes place in Brussels at the same time that Madrid hosts the EU/Latam-Caribbean leaders’ summit and one of the main points of the agenda is re-launching discussions for an umbrella association and cooperation agreement.

Talks between the two blocks have been stalled since 2004 precisely over agriculture differences and EU fears of Mercosur competitive farm sector.

The EU 27 Agriculture Council includes at least ten countries, led by France that has strongly warned about the threat for the European agriculture of a trade understanding with Mercosur.

The group of the “grumpy ten” is expected to release a joint statement before the Agriculture council rejecting any further farm concessions to Mercosur and expressing deep concern for European farmers.

The group besides France includes some heavy weights beneficiaries of the CAP (Common Agriculture Policy) subsidies such as Poland, Ireland, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Luxembourg, and Finland.

However the Spanish delegation has anticipated that the Council will only produce “information” since Mercosur related decisions will be taken in Madrid and are the competence of heads of government or Foreign Affairs ministers.

Spanish Minister for Environment, Rural and Marine affairs Elena Espinosa said “there’s no fear about the effects of discussions with Mercosur on European agriculture” adding that so far “nothing is on the table”.

Spain which holds the “pro-tempore” rotating presidency of the EU during this first half of 2010 is anxious to re-establish strong trade links with Latinamerica and advancing with the different regional blocks such as Mercosur, the Andean community and Central America.

Reports from the European Commission indicate that those sectors most exposed to Mercosur competition are livestock, beef and pork, and could have a serious impact on several of Spain’s autonomous regions.

On the other hand the winery and olive sectors are most interested in the talks.

The Agriculture council agenda also includes upgrading the role of the woman in the agriculture sector, how to help young farmers get started and how to make the overall European agriculture more competitive.