Polish farmers end protests against EU-Mercosur deal
The Polish farmers protested across the country on Friday against the trade agreement between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc, as well as the influx of cheap imports from Ukraine.
This time, the protesters refrained from blocking the roads, as they had done in the past, but staged demonstrations in the streets and car parks in 50 locations, mainly in northwestern Poland.
Stanislaw Barna, one of the pickets' organisers, told PAP that the protesters' aim was to draw attention to the problems facing Polish agriculture: declining profitability of production, growing imports of cheap products from Ukraine, and the EU agreement with Mercosur countries.
Barna reported that the farmers' community is still awaiting the agriculture ministry's response to a letter sent in September, which outlined 22 demands for protective measures.
"We are looking forward to talks with the government and the creation of systemic mechanisms to protect the Polish market," he said.
Mercosur, also known as the Southern Common Market, is a South American trade bloc. It was established in 1991 but failed to be ratified after two decades of negotiations. The agreement between the South American states and the EU aims to create a free trade zone between the two regions.
Last December marked a breakthrough for the deal after the EU and the Mercosur bloc, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, finally reached an agreement to create the EU's largest trade accord. It now requires a vote in the European Parliament and a qualified majority among EU governments, meaning 15 of 27 members representing 65 percent of the EU population.
Poland has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the deal. (PAP)
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