Brussels – The Czech Republic acknowledges the importance of trade agreements, including the one with Mercosur that is currently nearing completion, but seeks much stronger safeguard measures. Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Martin Šebestyán conveyed this to Czech journalists in Brussels today, following an urgent afternoon meeting with EU ministers and European Commission representatives. He noted that the Commission assured them that these concerns would be addressed by the week’s end.
“I came here primarily to discuss the European Commission’s response to our farmers’ protests on December 18. I must admit I anticipated more concrete outcomes,” Šebestyán remarked. Nonetheless, he appreciated the incoming Cypriot presidency’s commitment to expedite the resolution of farmers’ concerns, particularly regarding the future structure of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The Czech minister indicated that the discussions were, in part, influenced by the upcoming approval of the EU trade agreement with Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, scheduled for this Friday.
“We recognize the necessity of trade agreements. While we support the Mercosur deal, we would prefer significantly stricter safeguard measures in these agreements,” stated Šebestyán. When asked about how the Czech Republic would vote on Friday, he replied, “We are still awaiting a response from the European Commission, which falls under the jurisdiction of not only the Ministry of Agriculture but also the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Prime Minister.”
The trade agreement with the Latin American bloc has been under negotiation for 25 years. Proponents, including Germany, Spain, and the Nordic EU countries, believe it will enhance exports affected by U.S. tariffs and lessen reliance on China by providing access to mineral resources. However, critics worry that it will inundate the EU market with low-cost goods, harming European producers. (7 January)
Leave a Reply