European Parliament votes on Mercosur: safeguards for farmers and strategic opportunities for Europe

Today, the European Parliament votes on a crucial component of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement: the activation of a safeguard clause for agricultural products. This clause is designed to offer European farmers faster and more effective protection when imports from Mercosur countries—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay—risk destabilising the EU market.

The vote is part of the broader EU-Mercosur deal, which has been under negotiation for over 25 years. The agreement opens the European market to a region with nearly 300 million consumers and aims to strengthen the EU economically and geopolitically in an increasingly volatile global order.

Faster protection for European farmers

MEPs are voting on the practical implementation of the bilateral safeguard clause for sensitive agricultural products. This includes stricter monitoring and mechanisms to trigger swift action in the event of serious or potential market disruptions. In such cases, the European Commission would be obliged to launch an investigation and could impose temporary protection measures.

In addition, a dedicated European compensation fund of at least €1 billion will be set up exclusively for the agricultural sector. The EU aims to protect its farmers while continuing to reap the benefits of international trade.

According to N-VA, fears of a massive influx of Mercosur agricultural products are unfounded. The agreement includes limited quotas, reduced tariffs, and is tied to strict European standards and clear safeguard mechanisms. The party points to past trade agreements like CETA with Canada as examples where predicted worst-case scenarios never materialised.

“Protection and market access go hand in hand”

N-VA MEP Kris Van Dijck underscores the importance of solid guarantees: “We take farmers’ concerns seriously. That’s precisely why the safeguard clause is essential—it combines market access with protection for vulnerable sectors. This gives the agricultural sector an additional advantage, on top of the excellent quality of our farmers’ products.”

Strategic importance for Europe—and Flanders

The EU-Mercosur deal is more than just another trade agreement. It offers European businesses improved access to a traditionally protected market and could save up to €4 billion annually in import duties. For Flanders—where one in three jobs is tied to international trade—this is particularly significant.

Geopolitically, the agreement is also vital. Amid rising protectionism, higher tariffs, and the growing influence of global powers like China, the N-VA sees free trade as a strategic lever.

The N-VA delegation in the European Parliament supports the agreement. “Free trade is not an ideological dogma for us—it’s an economic necessity for a small, open, and export-driven region like Flanders,” Van Dijck says. “Trade brings growth, prosperity, and quality jobs. For our SMEs in particular, the biggest growth potential lies outside the EU.”

Standing still is not an option

Against the backdrop of the EU’s shrinking share in global GDP The gross domestic product (GDP) is the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country, both by companies and the government. This term is usually used as a benchmark for a country’s prosperity. This is why the N-VA closely follows the evolution of the Belgian GDP. GDP and the shift of economic power toward Asia, delegation leader Johan Van Overtveldt frames the agreement in a wider context: “Without a deal, we effectively increase the influence of powers like China in the Mercosur region—with consequences for sustainability, environmental standards, and clear rules of trade.”

The N-VA delegation warns against paralysing indecision: “Protectionism is a luxury that small, open economies like ours simply cannot afford. The first to suffer will be Flemish companies and households. Inaction is not an option. With strong guarantees in place, Mercosur is an opportunity—not a threat.”

The EU-Mercosur agreement strikes a careful balance between economic opportunity, strategic leverage, and protection for agriculture. In times of global uncertainty, the N-VA is firmly choosing open trade and a strong European position on the world stage.