Tisza Party’s Support for Mercosur Deal Sparks Alarm Among European Farmers

Strasbourg: The Fidesz delegation in the European Parliament continues to oppose the EU-Mercosur agreement, while the Tisza Party is helping to ensure the rapid entry into force of a deal that would be devastating for hundreds of thousands of European farmers, Fidesz MEP Csaba D¶m¶t¶r said on Wednesday in Strasbourg.

According to About Hungary, MEP D¶m¶t¶r explained that the proposed free trade deal would open EU markets to the economies of the South American Mercosur bloc, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. He expressed concerns that, when combined with the already implemented EU-Ukraine trade agreement, the Mercosur deal could prove fatal for many European farmers. Producers would be forced to compete with large-scale agricultural operations and face unfair competition due to differing regulatory standards between EU and non-EU countries.

MEP D¶m¶t¶r also highlighted potential public health risks, noting that agricultural producers in the Mercosur countries use chemical substances banned in the EU. Hungary did not support the adoption of the safeguard clause linked to the Mercosur agreement, as it offers no real protection for farmers, leaving the European Commission with discretionary power to intervene in case of harm.

He criticized the Tisza Party for not opposing the deal, while their European People’s Party (EPP) group, led by Manfred Weber, supported the proposal. D¶m¶t¶r warned of potential repercussions for Hungarian markets, which could open to large foreign agricultural enterprises after elections.

Large-scale farmers’ protests are being held in Strasbourg and Brussels, driven by anger over EU plans to open markets to non-EU producers while cutting agricultural subsidies. This reduction in support is estimated at around 50 percent over a few years, with funds redirected toward new defense instruments and military support for Ukraine.

MEP D¶m¶t¶r concluded by stating that Fidesz opposes irresponsible market openings and subsidy cuts, describing current EU policies as a premeditated attack on European farmers and agriculture.