The European Commission on Wednesday proposed new safeguards to strengthen protections for EU farmers under the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA). The move adds legal weight to previous guarantees made to member states and aims to provide “an extra layer of certainty” to producers in sensitive sectors such as beef, poultry, rice, honey, and sugar. If imports from Mercosur countries suddenly surge or EU prices drop sharply, the Commission could step in with temporary measures.
Now with extra protection
The regulation outlines enhanced market monitoring, with the Commission committing to send biannual impact reports to the Council and Parliament. It sets clear thresholds that could trigger investigations — such as a 10 per cent drop in import prices or a significant year-on-year rise in volumes — and enables faster responses. In urgent cases, safeguard measures could be put in place within three weeks of a Member State’s request.
Commissioners Maroš Šefčovič and Christophe Hansen said the proposal responds directly to farmers’ concerns and is key to building support for the trade agreement. While the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen called the protections “unprecedented,” Trade Commissioner Šefčovič said the measures show the EU is listening and acting in farmers’ interests. The Commission urged co-legislators to adopt the regulation swiftly ahead of the deal’s signature.
