MEP Ciaran Mullooly bluntly challenged the entire European Parliament AGRI Committee yesterday, asking whether it intends to stand by while the Parliament and its agriculture committee are effectively sidestepped in the rush to advance the EU–Mercosur trade deal.

Speaking at yesterday’s AGRI Committee meeting, the first of 2026, the Midlands North West MEP asked colleagues directly whether they are prepared to allow a major trade agreement with profound consequences for European agriculture to proceed without full parliamentary scrutiny and approval.

“Are we, as a committee, going to stand by while this process continues,” Mullooly asked, “and allow our Parliament to be sidestepped with haste as this trade agreement is pushed into place?”

The intervention came as Mullooly also personally delivered a petition signed by more than 30,000 people opposing the Mercosur deal to a member of Ursula von der Leyen’s staff in Brussels.

The Midlands MEP said he has been informed that Commission President von der Leyen plans to travel to South America on January 17 to sign the agreement, despite widespread farmer protests and unresolved concerns across the EU.

Mullooly has now called on Michael McGrath to intervene and ensure that no steps are taken to advance or implement the Mercosur deal without a vote of the European Parliament.

During the committee meeting, Mullooly highlighted the scale of opposition on the ground.

“Over the course of the last seven days, farmers all over Europe have taken to the streets again,” he said.

“On the streets of Poland, Germany and Italy, and at the weekend more than 30,000 people in my own Member State of Ireland raised concerns about food safety and the threat to livelihoods.”

He warned that reports suggesting the agreement could be implemented before a parliamentary vote would represent a dangerous precedent.

“This is not only undemocratic – it is dangerous,” Mullooly said.

“Whether you are for or against this deal, every MEP is entitled to a vote before it is ratified or rejected.”

Mullooly also challenged the European Commission over overwhelming confusion surrounding the recently announced €45 billion CAP ‘early access’ proposal.

“We were told of a new €45 billion contribution to the CAP budget, only to discover it is not new money – it is existing money,” he said.

“Farmers deserve clarity, not sleight of hand.”

Mullooly concluded by urging the AGRI Committee to defend the Parliament’s role.

“If we allow this process to bypass scrutiny, we weaken our democracy,” he said.

“That is something this committee should not accept.”