THOUSANDS OF FARMERS are to take to the streets of Brussels today to protest EU plans for a trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur and reforming agricultural subsidies.

Driving hundreds of tractors, the demonstrators are expected to reach the European quarter of the Belgian capital around noon, when European Union leaders will be locked in a high-stake summit.

The President of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and his 11-year-old son are are among those travelling to the protest.

Farmers worry the Mercosur deal – which will be discussed at the EU leaders meeting – will see them undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours.

They also oppose plans put forward by the European Commission to overhaul the 27-nation bloc’s huge farming subsidies, fearing less money will flow their way.

A fire burns in a barrel as European farmers block a road with their tractors Alamy Alamy

France and Italy have been calling for more robust safeguard clauses, tighter import controls and more stringent standards for Mercosur producers.

Arriving at the summit in Brussels today, the Taoiseach said there is “no sense” of a resolution on Mercosur this week.

“We (the EU) have a very robust agricultural industry. We export €20 billion now. Our beef exports and our dairy exports are growing.

“Trade has been very good for Ireland. We’re conscious of that. But we will work with other like-minded countries.”

Martin also said the European Commission has been responsive to calls for safeguarding measures to be implemented, making the conditions stronger than they were last year.

Minister of State Sean Canney said Ireland has yet to decide whether it will support Mercosur, but the previous version of the deal “was not acceptable”.

“We need to make sure that we have our farmers protected,” he said.

Canney told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that it’s “complicated” because the conditions keep changing and the debate is still ongoing.

Many countries had sought for the vote to be held this month, but now it may not take place until the new year.

Farmers’ issues

Police stand behind a barrier as European farmers block a road Alamy Alamy

Walloon Agricultural Federation (FWA) said Brussels’ plans to slash the subsidies scheme by 20% while pushing ahead with the Mercosur deal were “totally unacceptable”.

FWA will be among more than 40 national farming groups represented at the demonstration. Pan-European agriculture lobby group Copa-Cogeca said it expected about 10,000 people to show up.

The EU-Mercosur pact would create the world’s biggest free-trade area and help the EU to export more vehicles, machinery, wines and spirits to Latin America at a time of global trade tensions.

But farmers lament it would also facilitate the entry into Europe of beef, sugar, rice, honey and soybeans produced by their less-regulated South American counterparts.

The commission has proposed some measures that go in that direction but Hugues Falys of Belgian union Fugea said farmers had “little confidence” in those.

“Anger in rural areas is reaching unprecedented levels,” added French agricultural union Confederation Paysanne.

IFA President Francie Gorman and his son Tom set out from the Irish Farm Centre in Bluebell, Dublin on Monday morning with a small convoy of other tractors following behind them.

They travelled south to catch a ferry from Rosslare to Dunkirk in France, before making their way to Brussels.

The father-son duo were in good spirits as representatives from many regional IFA groups waved them on their journey.

With reporting by AFP