PiS MEP Jadwiga Wiśniewska submitted a question requiring a written response to the European Commission regarding the disastrous consequences of the EU-MERCOSUR agreement for Polish agriculture.
Jadwiga Wiśniewska emphasized that trade liberalization poses the risk of Polish products being displaced by cheaper competition, particularly from Brazil and Argentina. “This mainly concerns poultry—Poland is the world’s third-largest exporter and the EU leader in this sector, with 70 percent of its exports going to EU countries. The agreement threatens the loss of key markets, and its benefits for Polish farmers have not been demonstrated. Similar risks apply to beef, pork, sugar, ethanol, and grains,” the MEP points out. Furthermore, as the Polish politician noted, producers from MERCOSUR are not subject to EU environmental regulations (“Green CAP”), which puts European farmers at a competitive disadvantage.
Wiśniewska reminded the audience that the basis of any trade agreement is mutual benefit. In light of this, the PiS MEP asked where detailed calculations of the financial impacts on Poland and other EU countries could be found. Furthermore, she emphasized that if the plan is to bypass national parliaments during the ratification of the agreement, the European Commission should present evidence of the agreement’s clear financial benefits for all member states. “I ask that these calculations be provided in writing,” she urged.
