Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, has said she is deeply disappointed by the European Commission’s decision to press ahead administratively with the Mercosur trade deal while the European Court of Justice is examining its legality.
She accused the European Commission of undermining the European Court of Justice by implementing the deal in advance of that ruling.
Yesterday, Argentina and Uruguay both secured parliamentary approval in their respective parliaments for the Mercosur trade deal. While the Council of the EU voted by Qualified Majority Voting to grant authority to the Commission to apply the agreement on a provisional basis, Ireland did not support that vote.
The European Parliament voted, in January, to seek an opinion from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the compatibility of the Mercosur Agreement with the EU Treaties.
Ní Mhurchú reiterated this legal process should be allowed to play out before any further decision is taken on the Mercosur trade agreement.
She noted that the Mercosur trade deal undermines EU environmental standards and will have a negative impact on Ireland’s beef sector. She also pointed to the weakness of the deal in protecting our various climate and sustainability commitments, and food safety standards in the EU.
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