Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin and Left Group Coordinator on the International Trade Committee, Lynn Boylan, has slammed the announcement that the European Commission will be splitting the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
Splitting the agreement means that national parliaments will not have a say on ratification of the agreement and that only a qualified majority will be needed at European Council – not unanimous agreement by all Member States.
MEP Boylan said:
“Splitting the Mercosur agreement is an undemocratic attempt by the European Commission to force this rotten trade deal on the European public who have made clear their opposition to Mercosur.
“National parliaments will not have a say on this agreement – an agreement which is bad for people and planet, and will set us back in our climate targets and our commitment to preventing deforestation.
“The European Commission knows that parliamentarians from across Europe will not accept this deal and have today demonstrated their willingness to force through this agreement in a highly undemocratic way with little public scrutiny.
“The Irish Government must now be clear that they will join the blocking minority at the European Council to ensure this trade deal is not ratified. The Government cannot sit on the fence as the Commission attempts to sell out our farmers and indeed our planet’s future.
“I will be opposing ratification in the European Parliament and working with like-minded colleagues in the International Trade Committee to oppose this rotten trade deal.”
