Joint Statement

Subject: United Call by EU Farmers' and Agricultural Workers' Organisations to Oppose the EU-Mercosur

Trade Agreement

2 July 2025, Brussels

Dear EU Ministers of Agriculture and Trade,

Dear Members of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade,

We, the undersigned organisations representing the diverse interests of European farmers and agricultural

workers – COPA-COGECA, CEJA, ECVC and EFFAT – urge you to firmly oppose the conclusion of the EU-

Mercosur trade agreement in its current form.

This proposed Free Trade Agreement would cause irreversible harm to vulnerable sectors within European

agriculture and seriously undermine the principles of food sovereignty. It disregards the calls of farmers

and agricultural workers to ensure fair competition and a decent income.

Restricting imports in sensitive sectors (such as beef, poultry, and sugar) through quotas is not an adequate

safeguard. The European Commission’s own impact assessment on the cumulative effects of trade

agreements confirms that price reductions are expected in many of these sectors. While some may view

such reductions as “limited,” they would, in practice, compound already unsustainable market conditions

where farmgate prices are insufficient to sustain livelihoods.

In the current global context of economic and geopolitical instability, entering into an unbalanced trade

agreement would only deepen the EU’s external dependency in the strategically vital agricultural sector.

Agriculture is not only a cornerstone of our rural economies, but a key pillar of Europe’s food and economic

security.

We strongly object to the instrumentalisation of agriculture as a bargaining chip to secure advantages for

other sectors. Instead, we advocate for a renewed trade approach based on the principles of economic,

social, and environmental sustainability, reciprocal standards, accountability and enforceability of the

commitments under the Trade and Sustainability chapter including the eight fundamental ILO conventions

and a just transition – as highlighted in the findings of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture.

It is also essential to ensure coherence between the European Union’s internal objectives and its external

trade commitments.

We reiterate that the goal of generational renewal in farming, a key priority for the sector, cannot be

achieved if our trade policy facilitates social dumping and entrenches unfair competition.

The widespread farmer protests across the EU in early 2024 sent a clear and unambiguous message: end

the negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement. In response, the European Commission temporarily

paused discussions. During this period, political representatives from across the spectrum expressed

solidarity with the concerns raised by farmers. However, the subsequent resumption and acceleration of

negotiations following the European elections signals a troubling disregard for the widespread public and

sectoral opposition in many Member States.

The time has come for clarity and action. As the main organisations representing all facets of the EU

agricultural sector, including farmers and workers alike, we call on Member States and Members of the

European Parliament to oppose the ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

Yours sincerely,

CEJA - European council of young farmers

COPA-COGECA - Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations & the General Confederation of

Agricultural Cooperatives

ECVC – European Coordination Via Campesina

EFFAT - European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions

-END-

For further information, please contact

Marion Picot – Secretary General CEJA +32 495512474 [email protected]

Ksenija Simovic - Senior Policy Advisor COPA-COGECA +32 473 66 30 71 [email protected]

Alisha Sesum - Communication Officer +32 465033385 [email protected]

Ivan Ivanov - Political Secretary Agriculture Sector EFFAT Tel: +32 492 588664 [email protected]

Subject: United Call by EU Farmers' and Agricultural Workers' Organisations to Oppose the EU-Mercosur

Trade Agreement

2 July 2025, Brussels

Dear EU Ministers of Agriculture and Trade,

Dear Members of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade,

We, the undersigned organisations representing the diverse interests of European farmers and agricultural

workers – COPA-COGECA, CEJA, ECVC and EFFAT – urge you to firmly oppose the conclusion of the EU-

Mercosur trade agreement in its current form.

This proposed Free Trade Agreement would cause irreversible harm to vulnerable sectors within European

agriculture and seriously undermine the principles of food sovereignty. It disregards the calls of farmers

and agricultural workers to ensure fair competition and a decent income.

Restricting imports in sensitive sectors (such as beef, poultry, and sugar) through quotas is not an adequate

safeguard. The European Commission’s own impact assessment on the cumulative effects of trade

agreements confirms that price reductions are expected in many of these sectors. While some may view

such reductions as “limited,” they would, in practice, compound already unsustainable market conditions

where farmgate prices are insufficient to sustain livelihoods.

In the current global context of economic and geopolitical instability, entering into an unbalanced trade

agreement would only deepen the EU’s external dependency in the strategically vital agricultural sector.

Agriculture is not only a cornerstone of our rural economies, but a key pillar of Europe’s food and economic

security.

We strongly object to the instrumentalisation of agriculture as a bargaining chip to secure advantages for

other sectors. Instead, we advocate for a renewed trade approach based on the principles of economic,

social, and environmental sustainability, reciprocal standards, accountability and enforceability of the

commitments under the Trade and Sustainability chapter including the eight fundamental ILO conventions

and a just transition – as highlighted in the findings of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture.

It is also essential to ensure coherence between the European Union’s internal objectives and its external

trade commitments.

We reiterate that the goal of generational renewal in farming, a key priority for the sector, cannot be

achieved if our trade policy facilitates social dumping and entrenches unfair competition.

The widespread farmer protests across the EU in early 2024 sent a clear and unambiguous message: end

the negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement. In response, the European Commission temporarily

paused discussions. During this period, political representatives from across the spectrum expressed

solidarity with the concerns raised by farmers. However, the subsequent resumption and acceleration of

negotiations following the European elections signals a troubling disregard for the widespread public and

sectoral opposition in many Member States.

The time has come for clarity and action. As the main organisations representing all facets of the EU

agricultural sector, including farmers and workers alike, we call on Member States and Members of the

European Parliament to oppose the ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

Yours sincerely,

CEJA - European council of young farmers

COPA-COGECA - Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations & the General Confederation of

Agricultural Cooperatives

ECVC – European Coordination Via Campesina

EFFAT - European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions

-END-

For further information, please contact

Marion Picot – Secretary General CEJA +32 495512474 [email protected]

Ksenija Simovic - Senior Policy Advisor COPA-COGECA +32 473 66 30 71 [email protected]

Alisha Sesum - Communication Officer +32 465033385 [email protected]

Ivan Ivanov - Political Secretary Agriculture Sector EFFAT Tel: +32 492 588664 [email protected]