Coveney ‘shock’ over EU-Mercosur deal

AGRICULTURE Minister Simon Coveney has expressed “shock” at EU trade talks with South America which could cost European farmers €3 billion between now and 2020.

A private document by the EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), seen by the news agency Reuters, advises that 33,000 farm jobs could be lost in Europe if it approves the draft EU-Mercosur deal in its current format.

The JRC’s report to the European Commission predicts the worst losses would be felt by beef producers in Ireland, Britain and France. In its present form, the deal would see a 200,000-tonne annual increase in beef imports into the EU from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.