Brussels, 03/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - COPA-COGECA (European farmers' and European agri-cooperatives' organisations) has warned MEPs of the “catastrophic impact” on the EU agriculture sector of the trade liberalising agreement currently under discussion between the EU and Mercosur. It was taking part, along with Primary Food Processors (PFP) in a seminar, hosted by MEPs Jean-Pierre Audy and Michel Dantin, in the European Parliament on Monday 2 May.
The European agricultural sectors which will be hardest hit will be meat, sugar, fruit juice and maize. COPA-COGECA pointed out that, according to a study which it published recently, the EU agriculture sector could lose up to €13 billion. “The same study shows that Mercosur is already a major exporter of agriculture and food products to the EU, with 86% of our beef imports and 70% of our poultry meat imports coming from these countries. If a deal were to go ahead, the EU would become dependent on one external source for its food security needs, making it dependent on climatic or political decisions from these countries”, stated COPA President Gerd Sonnleitner.
“A new study released by the Commission acknowledges that there would be huge losses to the EU agriculture sector as a result of a deal, and that all EU countries would be impacted by the new tariff free quota”, he observed. Imports from Mercosur countries “do not meet the EU's high environmental and quality standards and there are still concerns about safety aspects of meat production in these countries such as traceability”, he went on.
COPA-COGECA estimated losses of €1 billion for the sugar sector. The EU already imports six times more orange juice than it produces, and 86% of these imports come from Brazil and Argentina. (L.C./transl.rt)