Midlands–North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has challenged the entire European Parliament AGRI Committee, asking whether it intends to stand by while the Parliament and its agriculture committee are effectively sidestepped in the rush to advance the EU–Mercosur trade deal. Speaking at an AGRI Committee meeting -the first of 2026 - MEP Mullooly asked colleagues directly whether they are prepared to allow a major trade agreement with profound consequences for European agriculture to proceed without full parliamentary scrutiny and approval. He has now called on Michael McGrath to intervene and ensure that no steps are taken to advance or implement the Mercosur deal without a vote of the European Parliament. During the committee meeting, MEP Mullooly highlighted the scale of opposition on the ground. “Over the course of the last seven days, farmers all over Europe have taken to the streets again,” he said.

Source: The Herald January 13, 2026 21:14 UTC