MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Irish farmers occupy EU offices in Dublin to protest trade talks with Mercosur

John Bryan, president of the Irish Farmers' Association

Irish farmers occupied Monday afternoon the offices of the European Commission in Dublin, over fears of a multibillion-Euro threat to the livestock industry from Mercosur.

Demonstrators believe EU/Mercosur talks in Brussels this week could open the door to ‘cheap beef imports’ from the South Americas trade group that would hit the homegrown sector hard.

Accusing the EU of a “sell-out”, around 30 protesters entered European Union House with the intention of staging an overnight sit-in. The farmers carried sleeping bags and signs saying “Stop EU Beef Sell-Out to Brazil”.

John Bryan, president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), said a deal at the EU/Mercosur trade negotiations could cost European and Irish farmers 25 billion Euros.

“The demand from Mercosur for a huge increase in imports would destroy the European steak market and severely damage beef prices in Ireland and across European markets,” he said. “The EU cannot hand over half of our high value steak market to Mercosur”

Mr Bryan said the IFA is demanding the new Irish coalition Government takes up the issue at the highest level in Brussels. Given the importance of agriculture and beef and livestock to the Irish economy, farmers will be looking to the new government to take up this issue

“The negative impact from a Mercosur deal would seriously damage our economic recovery and inflict major job losses at farm and industry level across the country” he underlined.

“Given the importance of agriculture and beef and livestock to the Irish economy, farmers will be looking to the new government to take up this issue” said IFA president John Bryan.

”The negative impact from a Mercosur deal would seriously damage our economic recovery and inflict major job losses at farm and industry level across the country - the EU cannot hand over half of our high value steak market to South America, who fails to meet EU food safety standards” insisted John Bryan.