Ordeig defends the Mercosur agreement, but farmers prolong their protests.

BarcelonaCatalan farmers will continue their road blockades across the country, they announced on Friday, hours after the 27 member states of the European Union approved the free trade agreement with Mercosur (the South American bloc), against which they had begun their protests in Catalonia. The farmers have accused the Catalan government of having "sold them out," while the Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, defended the trade agreement, asserting that "Catalonia is the biggest winner." "We have a 105% agri-food trade surplus, which we want to maintain and expand," Ordeig stated regarding the Catalan primary sector. In this regard, he emphasized that, in an international context where "there are countries in the world that are isolating themselves and isolating us," it is necessary to "seek new trading partners." The regional minister met this Friday in Reus with representatives of the farmers who are blocking access to the port of Tarragona and asked them to act responsibly so as not to disrupt supplies.

Despite the positive comments about the agreement, the regional minister acknowledged that the Catalan government is "concerned" about the potential impact of the pact on sectors such as honey, rice, "and some meat" produced in Catalonia. With the treaty, these sectors will now face increased competition from the possible entry of these products from Mercosur member states. In this regard, the Minister of Agriculture explained that the Catalan government lacks jurisdiction over the pact promoted by the European Union, but stated that they will request that trade agreements be made "with guarantees, safeguard clauses, mirror clauses, and border controls," as he believes that "what is prohibited here should not be able to be imported." "If more controls are needed, then so be it," he emphasized, regarding the entry of food products that do not meet the standards to which European farmers must adhere. He also stated: "The problem isn't whether or not we make trade agreements, but how we protect and empower our farmers so they can compete." For this reason, he defended the need to "facilitate the work and daily lives" of farmers and encouraged the public to "support" the Catalan primary sector so that "not a single young farmer has to give up."

Farmers' outrage

Ordeig's statements have done nothing to calm the anger of the thousands of farmers who, for the past two days, have been blocking several roads and access points to infrastructure across the country. These protests are also taking place in France, one of the countries with the strongest public opposition to the Mercosur agreement. Guillem Solà, a spokesperson for Revolta Pagesa, asserted that they are now "angrier than before" and did not rule out extending the blockade to secondary roads to paralyze access to the Pyrenees in the coming days. In statements reported by ACN, the farmers gathered on several Catalan roads feel "betrayed" by the Catalan and Spanish governments, especially since the Spanish state voted in favor of the trade agreement.

Ramon Rojo, spokesperson for Revolta Pagesa in the Camp de Tarragona region, asserted that the endorsement "confirms that governments are not on the side of the people." "We have no other option but to defend our interests and those of our society" to maintain "the farming community and food security and sovereignty," he stated. The farmers will continue to exert pressure until Monday, the day EU and Mercosur representatives are scheduled to definitively sign the agreement for it to enter into force. There are also protests in Cantabria and, outside of Spain, in France, Belgium, and Poland, among other European countries. The governments of countries such as France, Poland, Belgium, and Hungary have announced that they will also fight against the agreement's approval in the European Parliament, where it has not yet been voted on and which must give its approval for it to definitively enter into force.