ICMSA describe Commission move to ratify Mercosur as “a calculated betrayal” and “mind-boggling hypocrisy”

The President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan, has described as a “calculated betrayal” and “mind-boggling” the decision by European Commission to adopt a proposal to ratify the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. Mr. Drennan said that identifying the Irish interest on this matter could not be more straightforward and our government must speak for and ‘dig in’ on that interest. He said that even aside from Ireland’s critical interest in maintaining our beef exports to fellow EU Member States, Ireland and the other Member States with large agri sectors were surely entitled to insist on a minimum level of consistency from the Commission and the decision to proceed with ratification represented the abandonment of any pretence at consistency and reason.

“How can anybody imagine that we can have Irish and other EU farmers practically drowning in a relentless tide of EU micro-regulations on the environment and sustainability, while the very same EU concludes a trade agreement that will see massive imports of beef and other foodstuffs produced in an environmental free-for-all and without a semblance of sustainability?  If this proceeds then it becomes the ‘Gold Standard’ in international and institutional hypocrisy and double standards”, said Mr. Drennan.

He said the that the situation the ‘other side’ of a Mercosur Ratification would have Irish farmers producing beef subject to the most stringent sustainability and environmental regulations and oversight imaginable having their beef side-by-side on European supermarket shelves with cheaper South American beef produced to notably lower standards of regulation, health and traceability on ex-forest land cleared by burning with any indigenous peoples driven off, forcibly evicted – or worse – by the corporate rancher-barons who comprise the beef sectors in these States.  

“Not alone will this be the result – the Commission is proceeding on the basis that they will accept that as the result”.

Mr. Drennan called on the Irish Government to make a united case with other Member States – most specifically, France – and form a blocking element that will halt any ratification process.  

Ends     3 September 2025

Denis Drennan, 086-8389401

President, ICMSA

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office