Farmers and civic groups protest EU-Mercosur trade deal in Nicosia

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, various agricultural, trade, and environmental organizations staged a demonstration outside the House of Europe in Nicosia to protest the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Organizers, including groups such as EKA, Panagrotikos, and the PEO trade union, delivered a resolution addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The protesters argued that the deal compromises European food self-sufficiency and disproportionately benefits large industrial nations exporting technology at the expense of small family farms. A primary concern for local producers is that halloumi, a key Cypriot export with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, was reportedly excluded from the agreement's safeguard regulations. Protesters also highlighted that imported products from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay might not meet European safety standards due to the use of pesticides banned in the EU. AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou criticized the immediate implementation of the deal, noting that a court ruling on potential legal violations could take up to 24 months. The resolution, which calls for binding protective measures and a reconsidered EU stance, will also be presented to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and all parliamentary parties. The demonstration began with a gathering at Eleftheria Square before marchers proceeded to the European Union House.