Budai warns that the EU-Mercosur Agreement could cost 120,000 jobs and calls for discipline in the coalition
PSD deputy Marius Budai warns that the trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur states could have major economic consequences, including the loss of approximately 120,000 jobs at the level of the European Union, according to impact studies.
PHOTO: Facebook / marius Budai
The former Minister of Labor calls for a political agreement within the governing coalition for the MEPs of the parties in power to support the amendment of the agreement in the European Parliament and warns that, in the absence of a common position, it will be called into question “the meaning of this coalition”.
In a message published on Facebook on Saturday, Marius Budăi addressed USR directly, accusing the party of inconsistency and ignoring the impact on Romanian agriculture.
“Did you know that a loss of around 120,000 jobs in the EU is estimated? Did you know that Romania is one of the European countries with the highest share of jobs in agriculture?”, wrote the PSD deputy.
Budai also criticized the position of USR in relation to environmental organizations, claiming that they opposed the Mercosur Agreement, which they categorized as “a deal that destroys the climate”.
“Didn't USR tell us that ecology is more important than energy, when they blocked the completion of some hydropower plants for the sake of frogs, fish and beetles? Now it didn't matter anymore that European environmental organizations opposed the agreement. Are you no longer with the climate?”the former minister said.
The PSD deputy admits that the EU-Mercosur Agreement includes some economic advantages, but warns that these should not be obtained at the expense of Romanian and European farmers. In this context, he considers that the protection measures introduced at the last moment are insufficient.
At the same time, Marius Budăi denies the information according to which the PSD MEPs supported the signing of the agreement.
“Stop lying to people by saying that the PSD MEPs would have voted to sign the agreement. On the contrary, they voted to amend it, by introducing clauses to protect Romanian and European farmers”. he emphasized.
The social democrat also draws attention to the fact that the Mercosur Agreement is the first trade agreement of the European Union concluded without the consensus of all member states and without taking into account the objections of some countries with a significant contribution to European agricultural production.
In his message, Budai also raises the issue of the new customs tax on carbon, which will enter into force on January 1, 2026 and will apply to fertilizers from outside the EU.
“This tax will increase agricultural production costs by 20%, which will make us even less competitive with Latin American agricultural products”warns the PSD deputy.
Marius Budăi requests clarifications including from Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, asking if he approved the USR ministers' position regarding the agreement and arguing that a decision with such an impact should have been discussed in the coalition.
“Will we establish a common conduct for the MEPs of the parties in the coalition for the amendment of the Mercosur Agreement in the European Parliament? Or will we go on separate paths, underlining the very meaning of this coalition?”Budai also wrote, specifying that the PSD will vote to amend the agreement.
The reaction comes after President Nicușor Dan announced on Friday that Romania voted in favor of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, after additional negotiations with other European states regarding the introduction of protective elements for Romanian and European producers, especially in the agricultural sector.
Also on Friday, PSD condemned the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mandate Romania's representative in COREPER to vote for the agreement, in the absence of clear clauses guaranteeing the protection of Romanian farmers from imports from Latin America.
