Poland will challenge the European Union’s trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc at the EU Court of Justice (CJEU). The announcement was made by the Polish Deputy Prime Minister, who stated that this step will protect the interests of Polish farmers.
Poland will challenge the European Union’s trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc at the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) in order to protect Polish farmers, Vice Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz declared on Wednesday, according to Anadolu.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the Polish government has approved a motion to file a complaint with the EU's highest court.
The announcement comes after the Polish Minister of Agriculture stated in April that Warsaw opposes the way the agreement was finalized.
Warsaw has repeatedly expressed concerns about the potential impact of the agreement on European agriculture, food security, and production standards. Poland has lobbied for additional guarantees for Polish farmers.
The EU and Mercosur signed the free trade agreement in January after nearly 25 years of negotiations. However, the agreement has faced criticism from several European countries, including Poland. Farmers fear that cheaper agricultural imports from South America could affect domestic producers.
The Mercosur bloc includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Supporters of the agreement argue that it would strengthen trade ties between the two regions and create one of the largest free trade zones in the world.