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EU Farm Council meets to discuss Mercosur trade negotiations

May 27, 2016 | ICSA in the Media | 0 comments

  • ICSA says that Mercosur will be negative for Irish agriculture, and particularly damaging for our €2.5bn beef sector.

Monday’s EU Farm Council meeting in Luxembourg will discuss ongoing Mercosur trade negotiations, as well as the current market situation and support measures. 

ICSA has also reiterated its calls for Ireland to do everything possible to block a Mercosur deal, saying that the current agricultural outlook in Europe was bad enough without adding fuel to the fire.

“A deal at a time when farmers across Europe are already feeling the pressure due to price volatility in all commodities and the knock-on impact of the Russian ban would be reckless and irresponsible. It must be understood that the Russian ban on pig imports has also caused a general depression for beef prices across most EU states. This in turn is impacting live exports as well as beef prices adversely,” said ICSA president Patrick Kent.

Market situation and support measures

At the last council meeting in March, it was agreed that decisive action would be taken to supplement the existing anti-crisis aid package for European farmers with a set of additional measures. A follow-up will be given on the new measures and initiatives in order to facilitate their effective and rapid implementation.

The Commission will also give a presentation on the possibilities of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, to help to address the demand for finance in the agriculture sector. The fund aims to provide €21bn of financial guarantees in order to mobilise €315bn of public and private investment in the economy, thereby seeking to fill 30% of the overall investment gap in all sectors.

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CONVENING OF NFFSC MUST KICKSTART EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO WEATHER RELATED DIFFICULTIES FACING FARMERS

ICSA president Sean McNamara has said the convening of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) tomorrow must kick start an emergency response to the ongoing difficulties facing farmers amidst continuing heavy rainfall. “With any hope of an early spring well and truly dashed and any fodder reserves dwindling fast it is clear this committee needs to rapidly reassess the current situation on the ground, including the extent of the fodder shortages and the impact of continued wet weather on farming operations,” he said.

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