Spanish farmers lash out against Mercosur: 'They will end European agriculture'

Spanish farmers are angry at the position their government has taken regarding the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur.

Although other European nations, such as France and Germany, are critical of the deal, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture is one of its supporters.

An agreement was reached on 28 June 2019 to open up trade between the 27 member states of the EU and the four founding members of the South American bloc - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The deal is seeking to establish one of the world's biggest free trade zones, encompassing 750 million people and about one-fifth of the global economy. 

“I think that there is a certain mythology surrounding Mercosur that does not seem to me to match with the reality of what the Mercosur agreement is, or the moment in which we are living,” said Minister Luis Planas in Brussels on Monday.

Planas also argued that in today's complicated geopolitical context, Europe needs this type of agreement.

Planas also posed a question to the Spanish agricultural sector: “Is the European Union interested in isolating itself right now? Or are you interested in expanding the network of our trade agreements with third countries to maintain our economic and commercial influence?”

Euronews spoke to several farmers and to the country's major agricultural associations.

All of them are against the EU-Mercosur pact, which they consider to be “unfair” since the producers from countries that are part of the agreement are not subject to regulations as strict as those in Europe. This would prevent competition on equal terms, they said.

“In these countries where you're expected to sourec certain raw materials, these standards don't exist, it's easier for them to produce and handle,” Cipri Guillén, spokesperson for the Arganda Wine Cooperative, told Euronews.

“Furthermore, it is inconceivable that the European Union, which was created to protect its member countries, is letting us work at a disadvantage and in unfair competition with third countries,” he adds.

After hearing Luis Planas' statement in Brussels, he said that “if the minister were a farmer he would be on the same side as his French and German counterparts,” referring to the critical stance that these countries have adopted.

Abandoning European agriculture

“They are demanding that we comply with some things that are becoming more difficult every day and that make our products more expensive. They are abandoning European livestock,” laments Guillén.

At the moment, Spanish farmers like him are not ruling out a call for protests over the issue..

This week has seen demonstrations by farmers in other countries such as France and in the Belgian capital of Brussels, which were attended by representatives of the sector from different EU countries.

Andoni García is a member of the Executive of the Coordinator of Farmers and Livestock Organizations (COAG). He attended the demonstration in Brussels in person.

Although he applauds the position taken by the French Prime Minister, he regrets that Pedro Sánchez is turning his back on farmers in Spain.

“We totally reject the position of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Spanish government when they know the impact that the agreement has on livestock and agriculture throughout Spain,” he remarked to Euronews before attending a meeting in the Congress of Deputies.

Against European objectives

García is sure that the agreement with Mercosur will have a “very negative impact that will promote more industrial models of agriculture that are in total and absolute contradiction with the objectives of the Green Deal and the Farm-to-table approach.

The meeting he attended on Tuesday is not related to this issue because, he says, “the Ministry of Agriculture has never convened a specific meeting with the agriculture sector to talk about Mercosur.”