Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly delivers petition with 30,000 signatures opposing Mercosur deal to Ursula von der Leyen

Midlands–North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly today bluntly challenged the entire European Parliament AGRI Committee, asking whether it intends to stand by while the Parliament  and its agriculture committee  are effectively sidestepped in the rush to advance the EU–Mercosur trade deal.

Speaking at today’s AGRI Committee meeting -the first of 2026 - Mullooly asked colleagues directly whether they are prepared to allow a major trade agreement with profound consequences for European agriculture to proceed without full parliamentary scrutiny and approval.

“Are we, as a committee, going to stand by while this process continues,” Mullooly asked, “and allow our Parliament to be sidestepped with haste as this trade agreement is pushed into place?” The intervention came as Mullooly also personally delivered a petition signed by more than 30,000 people opposing the Mercosur deal to a member of Ursula von der Leyen’s staff in Brussels.

PICTURES | Longford farmers out in force as 20,000 protest against 'rotten' Mercosur deal

The Midlands MEP said he has been informed that Commission President von der Leyen plans to travel to South America on 17 January to sign the agreement, despite widespread farmer protests and unresolved concerns across the EU.

Mullooly has now called on Michael McGrath to intervene and ensure that no steps are taken to advance or implement the Mercosur deal without a vote of the European Parliament.

During the committee meeting, Mullooly highlighted the scale of opposition on the ground.

“Over the course of the last seven days, farmers all over Europe have taken to the streets again,” he said. “On the streets of Poland, Germany and Italy, and at the weekend more than 30,000 people in my own Member State of Ireland raised concerns about food safety and the threat to livelihoods.”

He warned that reports suggesting the agreement could be implemented before a parliamentary vote would represent a dangerous precedent.

WATCH | Annoyed Longford farmer demands to know why are farmers being sold out over Mercosur

“This is not only undemocratic - it is dangerous,” Mullooly said. “Whether you are for or against this deal, every MEP is entitled to a vote before it is ratified or rejected.”

Mullooly also challenged the European Commission over overwhelming confusion surrounding the recently announced €45 billion CAP ‘early access’ proposal.

WATCH | Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly declares protest sent 'clear and powerful message, Ireland says NO to Mercosur'

“We were told of a new €45 billion contribution to the CAP budget, only to discover it is not new money - it is existing money,” he said. “Farmers deserve clarity, not sleight of hand.”

Mullooly concluded by urging the AGRI Committee to defend the Parliament’s role.

“If we allow this process to bypass scrutiny, we weaken our democracy,” he said. “That is something this committee should not accept.”

Also read: Longford - Westmeath TD vows that Sinn Féin will not give up the fight against Mercosur