Irish farmers protest at EU Commission offices about what they call the “Sale” trade agreement with Mercosur, a common market in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela.

The protests began after Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and three other European leaders sent a letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, emphasizing their "deep concern" about the potential EU trade deal with Mercosur, which will be concluded next week and may " threaten agriculture ”in Europe.

However, concluding a free trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc after 20 years of negotiations is the main priority of the European Union, said EU head of trade Cecilia Malmström.

President of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Joe Healy said that "we will be there to oppose the EU Commission's plans to sell Irish farming in a deal with the devil, which is Brazil, and its new president, Bolsonaro."

“It is completely unacceptable that the Commission is willing to sacrifice Irish and European farmers, but they also give the green light to the further destruction of tropical forests. Farmers are tired of a double conversation with the EU Commission, which gives us lectures on climate change, but is ready to make a deal with a country that has a program to eliminate climate, ”said Joe Healy.

“The Food and Veterinary Administration of the Commission has volumes of reports that harshly reveal non-compliance by the Brazilian authorities, in particular, EU standards with regard to animal welfare, traceability of food safety and the environment,” concluded the President of the Irish Farmers Association.