Mercosur Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

Why Mercosur hits a nerve in rural Poland – for farmers and the environment

February 17, 2026 Igor Tomasz Olech

One month after its signing by Mrs von der Leyen, the EU-Mercosur agreement remains contentious, with the European Parliament scrutinising its legality. In Poland – one of a handful of Member States that voted against the deal – it remains a lightning rod for farmers’ grievances. And it’s not just farmers who are unfairly expected to absorb risks: new research co-authored by Igor Olech for Poland’s Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics spotlights structural loopholes in Mercosur’s sustainability architecture. Igor Olech reports from Poland. […]

Mercosur will make European farmers more vulnerable to international capital & commodities flows

January 19, 2026 Hannes Lorenzen

With the signing of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement this weekend, a spectre of the past comes back to haunt Europe’s farmers. But there is still a political window to save their future. Op-ed by ARC2020 President Hannes Lorenzen, published in Le Monde on Saturday 17 January 2026. […]

Mercosur Is Set To Sail – With Sore Points for Sustainability, Will The Deal Sink Or Swim?

June 4, 2025 Oliver Moore

After a quarter-century of talks, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is closer than ever to the finish line. But is it a done deal, and who gets to sign off on it? How are the new more volatile geopolitical trade realities impacting decision-makers? And can it be stopped or changed at this late stage? Oliver Moore takes us through the choppy waters. […]

EU Not Doing its Sustainability Homework on Mercosur

March 31, 2021 Hans Wetzels

An inquiry by European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has found that the European Commission should have concluded an updated sustainability impact assessment before signing the EU-Mercosur trade deal. But will this be enough to stop national parliaments from ratifying the deal? Hans Wetzels reports. […]

Ireland | Beef Plan Movement Steps up Protest

July 14, 2019 ARC

On Wednesday the 10th of July an estimated 2,500 farmers took to the streets of Dublin to protest against the proposed Mercosur deal. The protest was organised by Beef Plan, a voluntary not for profit organisation set up in October 2018 by a small group of farmers from Meath (in Ireland’s centre-east). Since then, its membership has grown to over 20,000. So who are they and what do they want? […]

Brussels | Farmers, Environmentalists tackle EU-Mercosur Deal

July 12, 2019 Brendan Ó Conchúir (Brendan Conchuir)

Several organisation representing farmers and environmentalists came together in Brussels to protest against the Mercosur trade deal yesterday. Responding to a call from the Belgian farmers group FUGEA, farmers and activists gathered outside the European Commission to protest against the threat posed by Mercosur to farmer incomes, the environment, and the rights of indigenous peoples in South America. […]

Part 2 EU-Mercosur Trade Deal | A Road to Nowhere for Farmers?

May 28, 2019 Hans Wetzels

Behind closed doors the European Commission is negotiating about a massive trade deal with the South American block Mercosur. Talks continue despite increasing concerns for farmers and the environment. Are farming interests and consumer standards being sacrificed for the benefit of the motor industry? Part two of a two-part article with Hans Wetzels. […]

Part 1 EU-Mercosur Trade Deal | the Bolsonaro Era

May 12, 2019 Hans Wetzels

Behind closed doors the European Commission is negotiating about a massive trade-deal with the South-American block Mercosur. Talks continue despite increasing concerns for farmers and the environment. Part one of a two parter with Hans Wetzels. […]