Farmers’ reactions in the Baltic States to the EU–Mercosur agreement

Farmers’ reactions in the Baltic States to the EU–Mercosur agreement

🇱🇹 Lithuania

The most structured and procedural reaction. Farmers’ organisations and several MPs focus on how the decision was taken: the final position was approved by the Government, while the Committee on Rural Affairs opposed the agreement and the European Affairs Committee formally endorsed the position after the Ministry of Agriculture did not raise objections. The tone is institutional, questioning the decision-making chain and the lack of clear consent from farmers’ organisations.

🇪🇪 Estonia

Reaction is framed primarily at the EU level. Farmers speak through national organisations and European platforms, linking Mercosur to broader concerns about food security, unequal competition, growing bureaucracy and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. The focus is strategic rather than domestic, with less emphasis on internal government procedures.

🇱🇻 Latvia

The most market- and standards-oriented reaction. Farmers’ organisations highlight risks related to beef imports from Mercosur countries, double standards in animal welfare, traceability, and the use of hormones and antibiotics. The emphasis is on consumer trust, production costs and asymmetric regulatory burdens.

Common element:

In discussions among farmers’ organisations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, there is an expectation that exports of dairy products could benefit from the agreement. This argument is frequently used by governments in support of the deal, despite acknowledged risks for other segments of the agricultural sector. At the same time, there is no common regional position, and the reactions are largely embedded in a broader EU-wide context. BSM © 2026

Image: photos/photo_175@26-01-2026_18-01-17.jpg