Farmers Protest Against Mercosur Agreement

Farmers and trade unions held a protest in Nicosia, expressing strong opposition to the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. The protesters accused the agreement of threatening the survival of Cypriot producers, food safety, and traditional products such as halloumi. The event took place outside the House of Europe, where protesters submitted a resolution calling for the rejection of the agreement. The organizations emphasized that the agreement intensifies pressures on European producers, undermines the sustainability of primary production, and endangers the self-sufficiency and income of farming families. The General Secretary of the Cyprus Farmers Association, Panikos Hapas, stressed that the EU's policies regarding the agreement disregard consumer health and traditional dietary habits. He emphasized the need to protect local production and food security. Protesters fear that the agreement will lead to unfair competition and undermine the profitability of Cypriot farmers. The mobilization is an expression of broader concern in Cyprus and other EU countries about the potential negative consequences of the Mercosur agreement for the agricultural sector and the local economy. Farmers want to be protected from imports of cheap products from Mercosur countries and to ensure the sustainability of Cypriot agriculture.