Greece Defends Support for EU–Mercosur Deal as Farmers Block Roads

09:05 10/1/2026 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Greece defended its backing of the contentious European Union–Mercosur trade agreement this week, arguing the pact secures vital protections for iconic national products and opens vast new markets, even as farmers across the country escalated protests against the deal.

Ministry of Rural Development sources said in a briefing that the agreement—which links the EU with the 270-million-consumer Mercosur bloc of Brazil,

Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay—offers "unprecedented safeguards" for Greek agriculture.

The government’s defense comes at a volatile moment.

Farmers have manned tractors at key junctions in Thessaly and Macedonia for days, fearing a flood of cheap South American imports.

However, officials insist the final deal includes a "handbrake" clause: if imports of sensitive goods like beef or poultry surge by more than 5% annually, the EU can automatically suspend them.

“The agreement secures Greek farmers and gives new prospects to our products,” ministry officials stated, noting that Greece’s vote in favor was strategic, as the deal had already secured a qualified majority in the EU Council.

A central pillar of the government's argument is the protection of 21 Greek products with Geographical Indication (GI) status.

Under the deal, items such as Feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and Samos wine will be shielded from imitation in the South American market.

Officials highlighted that these protected goods typically command prices two to three times higher than generic competitors.

Currently, Greek agri-food exports to the region stand at a modest €34.3 million, a figure the ministry expects to rise sharply as tariffs fall.

The deal has deepened political divisions in Athens. While ruling New Democracy lawmakers supported the accompanying safeguards in a European Parliament vote on Dec. 16, opposition parties fractured.

Ministry sources accused MEPs from the socialist Pasok party and the Left of "pure populism" for voting against the measures, noting that socialists in major agricultural powers like France and Spain supported them.

Beyond agriculture, the government sees the deal as a boon for small businesses, which make up 97% of Greek exporters.

The agreement aims to slash red tape and tariffs that currently hamper entry into Latin American markets.

The European Commission has pledged to mobilize €45 billion for the EU’s primary sector to ease the transition.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the funding as proof that "Greece’s voice is being heard," though it remains to be seen if this will be enough to clear the tractors from Greek highways.

Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr

Διαβάστε ολόκληρο το άρθρο >>
Keywords
support, deal, block, deal, block, support, european, brazil, argentina, greek, key, macedonia, central, status, kalamata, samos, wine, market, times, athens, democracy, parliament, pasok, party, major, france, spain, government, slash, red, latin, sector, voice, iefimerida, iefimerida, slash, times, athens, agri, argentina, brazil, central, democracy, food, france, government, greek, kalamata, key, latin, macedonia, major, market, pasok, parliament, party, red, samos, sector, spain, status, wine, european, voice
Τυχαία Θέματα
criminal minds, add, conn x, d&d wiki
iNews > Ειδήσεις > iEfimerida