The European Union has provisionally agreed the EU-Mercosur trade agreement through a majority vote after 25 years of talks. In the wake of the news, 10,000 Irish armers are expected to descend upon Athlone tomorrow to protest the deal.
The protest is being organised by Independent Ireland, with the Irish Farmers Association encouraging farmers to attend to convey their opposition after Irish MEPs today voted against the deal.
Ireland joined with France, Poland, Austria and Hungary in being one of the five countries who voted no to the agreement at a meeting in Brussels today. Twenty member states voted in favour, whilst Belgium abstained. Italy ended up backing the deal, despite long-standing opposition. It will now be adopted due to qualified majority voting rules.
The deal received a backing of 68.7%, just above the required figure of 65%.
The deal is with Latin America’s largest economies, the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). It will allow Mercosur countries to export 99,000 tonnes of beef to the EU at a reduced tariff of 7.5%, a significantly lower rate than the standard tariff of 40 to 45 per cent. It will create the world’s biggest free trade zone, to cover a market of over 700 million consumers, with the EU being Mercosur’s second largest partner in trade in goods.
The deal will now be approved unless vetoes are raised by EU ministers, whilst it remains subject to approval in the European Parliament.
Tánaiste Simon Harris reacted to the vote this afternoon while speaking to reporters.
“No officials, at any level, including the European Commission, should ever take for granted the decisions that the democratically elected representatives right across the European Union may decide to make in the European Parliament,” he said.
He added the Government had not ruled out supporting the deal “if changes and improvements” were made around food safety and “parity” with environmental standards.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, welcomed the deal as “historic.”
Freiderich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, meanwhile, described the agreement as a “milestone in European trade policy and a strong signal of our strategic sovereignty and ability to act.”
“This is good for Germany and for Europe. But 25 years of negotiations were far too long — we need to move faster,” he said.
Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s minister for foreign affairs and trade, however, said the agreement would “open Europe to unlimited imports of South American agricultural products at the expense of the livelihoods of Hungarian farmers”.
Poland has also remained firm in its opposition, with various politicians including Sławomir Mentzen, a candidate in the country’s last presidential election, urging: “Stop Mercosur.”
President of the national farmers body, the IFA, Francie Gorman described the outcome as disappointing.
“This was a very narrow margin with countries representing a sizeable proportion of the EU population – 31.3% – not supporting the deal, which is something the EU Commission has to be concerned about,” said Gorman.
“This still requires approval by the EU Parliament, and we will renew our focus with our colleagues in COPA to secure a majority against the deal in the Parliament.
“This morning’s outcome shows that the Irish Government was not alone in expressing deep reservations about the deal and what it means for farmers and public health. The Commission cannot ignore the scale of the opposition to the deal,” he said.
IRISH FARMERS TO PROTEST IN ATHLONE
A large protest against the deal is to take place tomorrow in Athlone, with politicians including government Minister Michael Healy-Rae to attend.
An Garda Síochána this evening said it was aware of plans for a Public Assembly and associated activity to take place in Athlone on Saturday. It said that it understands the protest will involve a convoy of mainly agricultural vehicles from the N61 Roscommon Road, along the N6 travelling eastbound from Junction 12 to Junction 10, and along the N55 towards the R916, Cornamaddy roundabout.
The demonstration will also involve a march from the vicinity of Junction 9 N6 along the R916 to TUS Athlone, as well as a rally and speeches at TUS Athlone.
“It is expected that there will be significant additional traffic, including slow moving vehicles, in the N6 area, from Junction 12 to Junction 10, in the morning and over the course of Saturday 10th January 2026,” AGS said in a statement.
It added that it is not intended that the N6 eastbound will be closed. Members of the public travelling in the affected areas of the N6 Athlone on the 10th January 2026 are asked to plan their journeys during this period to ensure to leave enough time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect some localised delays.
There will be additional traffic, parking and pedestrians in the vicinity of the N55 Cornamaddy roundabout, R916 and environs of TUS Athlone from early morning until the Public Assembly finishes in the afternoon.
An Garda Síochána asks members of the public visiting Athlone Town, in particular the environs of TUS Athlone on the 10th January 2026, to be aware of potential traffic delays.
The force is to liaise with Westmeath County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to minimise disruption in the Athlone area.