EU countries green light EU-Mercosur free trade agreement: farmers ignored, democracy sidelined

ECVC Press Release: 09 January 2026

The European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) strongly condemns the decision by a majority of EU Member States to clear the way for the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, despite widespread opposition from farmers across Europe and South America.

This agreement, negotiated behind closed doors and on outdated premises, prioritises agribusiness interests over the livelihoods of farmers and agricultural workers. By removing tariffs on over 90% of products, the deal will intensify unfair competition, exposing European farmers to imports produced under social, environmental, and sanitary standards that are not equivalent in practice and often impossible to effectively control.

In addition, internal sources indicate that EU member states decided not to wait for the European Parliament’s green light before authorising the Commission to implement the agreement. The signing of the agreement by the Council without real consensus weakens the EU.

Our members are now taking to the streets in different countries and will also do so in the coming days. ECVC denounces the repression faced by protesting farmers, including arrests and police violence reported during mobilisations in countries such as France. Criminalising those who defend fair prices, food sovereignty, and viable rural livelihoods is unacceptable and highlights the growing disconnect between EU institutions and the realities on the ground.

Claims that the agreement includes ‘strong reciprocity’ or can be compensated through stricter national controls are dangerously misleading. Within a single market, national-level measures are futile, as imports will inevitably enter through ports with weaker controls. Moreover, many production standards cannot be meaningfully verified at the border due to the specificities of agricultural production systems.

ECVC stands with all farmers mobilising against this agreement, in Europe and Mercosur countries, who will face increased land concentration, environmental degradation, and pressure on local food systems. 

In times of crisis, the EU should prioritise food sovereignty and promote socially responsible agriculture, with more farmers, moving towards a sustainable and resilient model, rather than imposing an obsolete free trade agreement.

ECVC calls on the European Parliament to vote against the trade deal and push the European Commission to radically reform its trade policy.