Commission warned against making Mercosur concessions

Eleven states demand information on trade talks' bargaining terms

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan Picture: Collins

Sarah Collins

Several EU countries, including Ireland, have raised a red flag over ongoing trade talks with the South American Mercosur bloc.

During a meeting of EU farm ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, 11 countries - Ireland, France, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia - warned the Commission against making concessions to Mercosur on beef, sugar or other sensitive sectors without consulting them first.