Farmers in Europe protest against EU-Mercosur deal
Farmers in numerous European countries continue to fiercely protest the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the South American trading bloc Mercosur. The agreement was approved by a majority of EU countries on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Most activity could be seen in Ireland, where an estimated 10,000 farmers and agricultural workers attended a large protest demonstration in Athlone. Shouting “No, no, no to Mercosur” and “Our cows follow the rules, why don’t theirs?,” many speakers argued that Irish and European farmers have been sacrificed “so the Germans can sell more cars.”
Participants urgently appealed to the European Parliament and the Irish members present to reject the agreement.
France: continued protests in Paris
France voted against the Mercosur agreement, yet demonstrations and blockades by farmers continue. After a large group of tractors forced their way to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Friday, the A1 motorway between Lille and Paris, as well as roads near Bordeaux, La Rochelle and Bayonne were blocked on Monday.
Agriculture minister Annie Genevard announced a new €300 million support package. France has also unilaterally banned the import of vegetables, fruit and other foodstuffs containing substances banned in the EU. These measures, however, have so far failed to keep farmers off the streets.
Poland: 1,000 protesting farmers in Warsaw
In Poland, about 1,000 farmers marched on tractors to the centre of Warsaw. A spokesperson for the activists said, “This undermines our agriculture and farmers. Food products that pose a threat to public health will soon be entering our country.”
Spain: Roads being blocked
In Spain, roads and cities were also blocked by protesting farmers. Several hundred of them also held a demonstration in Madrid.
The regional farmers’ union COAG Andalucia said, “We continue to oppose this agreement head-on, which poses a threat to food sovereignty, the health of our residents, and the viability of the countryside,” said the regional farmers’ union COAG Andalucia.
Belgium: Deal is a “slap in the face”
In Belgium, Lode Ceyssens, president of the farmers’ union Boerenbond, called the agreement “a slap in the face for the farmers who passionately ensure safe and sustainable food reaches European consumers’ plates every day.”
He said, “While Europe continues to raise the bar on sustainability and climate, this agreement opens the door to more and cheaper imported meat and sugar that is produced less sustainably than domestic European products. Consumers will be cheated, against their societal choices, and European farmers will be outcompeted by higher costs and cheap imports.”
Copa Cogeca: “Deal is fundamentally flawed”
The European farmers’ organisation Copa Cogeca stated that the approval by the Council of Ministers is no surprise. It said, “This follows months of unprecedented manoeuvring and pressure, which demonstrate the complexity and division of this issue.”
Despite the adjustments announced by the European Commission, European farmers and agricultural cooperatives remain opposed to the agreement. Copa Cogeca said, “The agreement is fundamentally unbalanced and fundamentally flawed. This deep conviction only strengthens our determination and mobilisation.”
