Poland's new agri minister hopes to gather minority to block EU-Mercosur trade agreement

On Wednesday, Krajewski presented his ministry's priorities for the near future. Among them was objection to the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.

"In the coming days and weeks, I will meet with ministers from member states who share Poland's approach to the agreement with Mercosur countries. I will build a blocking minority," the minister said.

"I am not considering any other options at the moment. I believe that we will be able to gather a blocking minority, and that the agreement will not be signed in its current form," he added.

Last week, the lower house of Polish parliament, Sejm, unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at supporting the Polish government in its efforts to block the trade agreement with Mercosur countries prepared by the European Commission.

In June 2019, after 20 years of talks, the EU and Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay, agreed to create a free trade area for 700 million people.

The Polish Ministry of Agriculture has been expressing its opposition to the agreement in its current form. Poland wants it to be enriched with additional requirements in terms of safeguard clauses, as well as quotas for agricultural imports, which should be such that they do not disrupt the European market.

In order to reject the agreement, a so-called blocking minority must be formed, i.e. a coalition of at least four countries representing 35 percent of the EU population. Poland and France are opposed to the agreement.

Among the countries that have expressed concern about the agreement are Hungary, Austria, Ireland, Romania and Italy. Krajewski said that Belgium may also be interested in blocking the agreement.

tus/ ao/