Hungary opposes EU-Mercosur trade deal, citing risks to farmers

Budapest [Hungary], January 10: Hungary rejects any agreement that threatens the competitiveness of its farmers, including the European Union's (EU) trade deal with South America's Mercosur bloc, Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy said on Friday.
In a video posted on social media, Nagy warned that the EU-Mercosur agreement, as well as Brussels' free trade deal with Ukraine, would jeopardize Hungarian farmers' livelihoods and undermine European food security.
Hungary's position on the issue is clear, he said, stressing that any agreement weakening farmers' competitiveness must be opposed.
"Our daily bread cannot be part of political games," Nagy said, adding that Hungary stands by its farmers and cannot risk food self-sufficiency or national sovereignty. He also cautioned that cuts to EU agricultural subsidies would further erode the future of European agriculture.
According to EU sources, the European Union on Friday gave provisional backing to the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement following a qualified-majority vote by member states, paving the way for the bloc to formally sign the deal in Paraguay.
France, Poland, Austria, Ireland and Hungary voted against the agreement, while Belgium abstained. Italy voted in favor after receiving additional assurances from the European Commission on safeguards for its agricultural sector, a move widely seen as decisive in securing the required majority.
Source: Xinhua News Agency