Safeguards for European farmers in the context of the EU-Mercosur Agreement

Priority question for written answer P-000095/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Victor Negrescu (S&D)

Given the imminent finalisation of the EU-Mercosur Agreement and the real risk that certain European agricultural sectors will be affected by rapid increases in imports, it is essential that European farmers be covered by clear, credible and easily-enforceable safeguards.

The EU cannot impose strict and costly rules on its farmers while exposing them to competition from production systems that do not satisfy equivalent standards and over which there are inadequate controls.

Before the Agreement enters into force, the Commission must demonstrate concretely that European farmers will not have to bear the costs of this opening-up of trade.

In this connection, can the Commission specify:

• 1.What rapid operational mechanism it intends to apply to activate safeguard clauses that can immediately be triggered should imports from the Mercosur cause significant price-drops, income losses or market disturbances, including at regional or sector-specific level?
• 2.How it will ensure genuine and verifiable reciprocity, namely that imported products meet standards equivalent to EU standards on pesticides, traceability, animal welfare and environmental requirements, and what concrete measures it will take in the event of non-compliance, including the suspension of trade preferences and of access to the EU market?

Submitted: 13.1.2026