A protest against the European Union’s trade agreement with the Mercosur countries took place on Saturday outside EU House in Nicosia. Agricultural organisations and other groups gathered to express opposition to the deal and handed over a written resolution.
The resolution is to be forwarded to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Organisers said the same text will also be delivered to the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and to all parliamentary parties.
In the document, the groups call for the immediate reconsideration of the EU’s position on the agreement with Mercosur. They ask for binding protective measures to be adopted. They express concern about what they describe as serious consequences for the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups.
The protesters state that the aim of a self-sufficient Europe cannot be achieved by increasing dependence on food imports from third countries. They argue that the agreement moves the EU in the opposite direction by expanding trade in agricultural and livestock products from outside the bloc.
According to the resolution, the agreement benefits large European industrial countries. They say these countries will export industrial goods and technology products. In contrast, they argue that small and medium-sized family farms and livestock producers in Europe will be negatively affected. They also state that European consumers may face negative consequences.
The document refers to safeguards included in the agreement for certain products with Protected Designation of Origin status. However, it notes that halloumi PDO, Cyprus’ main agricultural export and one of the country’s three largest export products overall, is not included in the agreement’s protections.
The protesters further argue that claims that consumers will benefit from reduced tariffs on agricultural and livestock products are misleading in the Cypriot context. They state that intermediaries, supermarkets and trading monopolies are likely to benefit from the abolition of tariffs rather than consumers.
The resolution is co-signed by agricultural organisations, environmental groups, student organisations, trade unions, consumer associations and other social groups. Organisers say their aim is to raise awareness of the potential impact of the EU–Mercosur agreement on Cyprus and to seek changes at both European and national level.