USR MEPs discuss the EU-Mercosur agreement and respond to PSD's criticisms

Dan Barna presents the economic implications for specific sectors, while Vlad Voiculescu responds to Gabriela Firea regarding the history of negotiations.

Brussels, January 14, 2026 – Members of the European Parliament from the Save Romania Union (USR) made detailed statements regarding the recently concluded EU-Mercosur trade agreement. They presented their perspective on the economic impact of the agreement for European industries and addressed recent comments made by PSD MEP Gabriela Firea regarding the negotiation process and parliamentary vote.

In short

Dan Barna states that the agreement opens a market of 260 million consumers, eliminating tariffs of 35-60% for sectors such as automotive and pharmaceuticals.

Vlad Voiculescu argues that the parliamentary vote established a mandate for stronger protective measures for farmers, a mandate also supported by PSD delegations.

USR representatives question the PSD's opposition, citing the trade agreement with Chile from 2023 signed under a PSD administration and the 25-year duration of negotiations.

MEP Dan Barna characterized the agreement as a strategic decision for the European Union, noting that it provides preferential access to a market of over 260 million consumers in Latin America. He emphasized that currently, companies in the EU, including those in Romania, face customs duties ranging from 35% to 60%. Barna described the agreement as an "oxygen balloon" necessary in a global context marked by trade tensions and competition from China and the United States. He stated that the agreement offers opportunities for exporters in sectors such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, services, and the agri-food industry by eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers. Furthermore, Barna mentioned that the text includes provisions on sustainability and labor rights, countering what he called "disinformation rhetoric," and added that safeguard clauses for the agricultural sector have been significantly improved to cover potential risks.

In response to the social media posts of PSD MEP Gabriela Firea, Vlad Voiculescu addressed procedural aspects in the European Parliament. He stated that Firea seems "alien to the truth and parliamentary procedures," suggesting that she was not aware of the inter-institutional negotiation package. Voiculescu clarified that the vote in question established the Parliament's negotiation mandate with the Commission and the Council, a mandate specifically designed to ensure stronger protective measures for farmers – measures that he noted were also voted on by PSD delegations. He used comparisons regarding understanding the file, likening the situation to a student entering an exam with a blank sheet.

Voiculescu also questioned the consistency of the social democrats' position, emphasizing that the Mercosur agreement has been negotiated for 25 years, a period that included multiple PSD governments. He cited the specific example of the trade agreement with Chile, signed in 2023, which includes an agricultural component and came into force under a PSD prime minister and minister of agriculture. Voiculescu also noted the public support for the Mercosur agreement expressed by the president last year and asked why the coalition partner did not raise these objections within the coalition or publicly until now. He concluded that in the European Parliament, knowledge of the file is necessary, not "who screams the loudest."

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/europarlamentarii-usr-discuta-acordul-ue-mercosur-si-raspund-criticilor-psd