The EU-Mercosur agreement introduces customs preferences, among others: for beef, poultry, dairy, sugar and ethanol, and in return opens South American markets to industrial goods from the EU. Minister of Agriculture Stefan Krajewski announced an attempt to refer the agreement to the Court of Justice of the EU.
The European Commission, however, argues that the agreement contains import limits and protective systems and will bring benefits to EU exporters, including Poland.
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Farmers are protesting on the day when the ambassadors of EU countries in Brussels agreed to conclude an agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Those who voted against included: Poland, France and Ireland, however, failed to gather a blocking minority. This means that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, may sign an agreement that provokes opposition from farmers in many European countries.
Donald Tusk on the agreement with Mercosur. The Prime Minister attacked PiS
Referring to the demonstration in front of the Prime Minister's Office, Tusk emphasized that the government and farmers speak with one voice on this matter. — We voted against Mercosur at every stage, even in this last vote. I understand farmers' emotions […]I share this view, but I don't understand why the Chancellery of the Prime Minister is the place where this protest is taking place, because there is no internal logic in it – said the head of government.
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The Prime Minister also assessed that PiS politicians bear the greatest responsibility for the entry into force of the agreement. — They had time and opportunity […]to weaken, delay or stop this process. They didn't do anything about it, quite the opposite. My government managed to introduce a safeguard clause, and in fact, the interests of farmers are largely secured, he emphasized.
Robert Bąkiewicz at a demonstration against the EU agreement with Mercosur countries
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Wojtek Laski / East News
Protective clauses and the political dispute over Mercosur. Donald Tusk on Italy's change of mind
Tusk recalled that it was adopted on Friday the protection clause of the strengthened version will allow the exclusion of customs preferences if prices of sensitive products in the EU fall by 5%. or when an excessive amount of imports enters the market. He also noted that during his Friday meeting with President Karol Nawrocki, the topic of Mercosur was not discussed.
The Prime Minister referred to the head of state's previous announcements regarding talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. — I would just like to remind you that someone must have committed to convincing Prime Minister Meloni to change her mind, because it was Italy's position that decided that Mercosur was not blocked. – he said. He added that he did not plan to meet with the head of the Italian government on this matter.
