The Polish government has filed a complaint with the EU Court against the free trade agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR countries. Warsaw demands the suspension of the document, believing that it creates unequal conditions for European farmers and may increase pressure from cheap imports on the EU agricultural market.
According to reports, along with the complaint, Warsaw submitted a request to suspend the agreement until the court makes a decision on the lawsuit filed by Polish authorities. It is noted that Poland is primarily dissatisfied with the absence of 'mirror requirements' for farmers from MERCOSUR countries regarding the quality and technology of production in the text of the agreement. This was reported by the radio station Polskie Radio.
On January 7, a free trade agreement was signed between the European Union and MERCOSUR countries in Paraguay. It came into effect on May 1. The agreement was primarily supported by Germany and Northern European countries, which are interested in reducing customs duties on products from the automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries supplied from the EU to South America.
At the same time, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, and France oppose the document, not wanting cheap agricultural products from South America to freely enter the European market. On January 21, Members of the European Parliament adopted a resolution in support of an appeal to the EU Court regarding the compliance of the free trade agreement with MERCOSUR with EU norms.
Poland is seeking a revision of the terms of the agreement with MERCOSUR, believing that European farmers should operate on equal terms with producers from South America, writes bb.lv. The legal proceedings could affect the further implementation of the trade agreement and the conditions for agricultural products' access to the EU market.
