OPPONENTS OF THE major EU-Mercosur trade deal are hoping to refer the agreement to the European courts as they argue that it may not meet environmental and climate obligations if implemented.

Irish MEPs are among those bidding to bring a resolution before the European Parliament next week in Strasbourg, France seeking to halt the trade deal with South American countries until further legal examination can take place.

The EU voted in favour of the deal last week but it will needs approval from MEPs before it can be enacted.

Last Saturday, thousands attended a rally in Athlone to voice opposition to the deal, with almost a dozen farm organisations and several political parties all attending in support.

Farmers have claimed that they will be undercut from the flow of cheaper beef from South America, while other factions have raised concerns over its potential environmental impact arising from the agreement.

Proponents of the deal have argued that the fears are overblown and have pointed to how reduced tariffs will benefit certain critical sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, when making their case.

A mock coffin and placards criticising EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen were on display at last weekend's anti-Mercosur rally in Athlone. Eoghan Dalton / The Journal Eoghan Dalton / The Journal / The Journal

Irish MEPs Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin) and Ciaran Mullooly (Independent Ireland) are among a small group of MEPs who have now written to European Parliament president Roberta Metsola seeking for a vote to take place when politicians meet next week in Strasbourg.

If they win the resolution, it would see the trade deal sent over to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) – the top EU court with responsibility for ensuring application of EU law to new legislation.

Boylan and Mullooly wrote to Metsola on behalf of 145 MEPs who are seeking an opinion from the CJEU on the agreement’s compatibility with key EU treaties.

However, if a majority of MEPs vote against referral, then the Mercosur deal could come before the European Parliament for ratification over the coming weeks.

“All Irish MEPs should support this crucial resolution to test the legality of the Mercosur Agreement,” Boylan said.

Sinn Féin’s Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan claimed it’s a “rotten deal for people and the planet” as she outlined her party’s position.

“I am proud to have been involved in the drafting and tabling of this crucial resolution and believe that it can demonstrate why ratifying Mercosur will be so disastrous for our environment,” Boylan said.

Boylan added that she has serious concerns that Mercosur could “undermine” EU climate and environmental law.

This includes provisions in the deal allowing Mercosur countries to get compensation if trade is impacted by future EU sustainability legislation.

Sinn Féin’s Ireland South MEP Kathleen Funchion said she would be voting for the resolution “in the interests of Irish farming and public health” when it comes before the parliament.

The news comes as Ireland’s largest farmers group announced its leadership will be travelling to Strasbourg in France next week for an anti-Mercosur protest arranged to take place outside the European Parliament.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman said he would be working in lockstep with fellow key farm lobby groups in Europe as they attempt to halt Mercosur from going any further.

“There are 720 MEPs in the Parliament, of which Ireland has 14, so we need to activate all farm organisations across Europe to lobby all MEPs,” Gorman said.

The IFA said it expected that there will be 1,000 tractors on the streets in Strasbourg to coincide with the plenary meeting of the European Parliament.