Irish beef farmers face a worrying week as trade talks between the EU and the Mercosur group of South American countries come to a head in Brussels on Thursday.

Of particular concern will be the drive by Germans, Swedes and Dutch as well as Spain and Portugal to make concessions to secure the deal.

Last week, France, Ireland, Belgium and Poland put on record their concerns and downsides of a deal.

European mood

With the mood among the northern European countries strongly for a deal and a narrow window in which to conclude negotiations, there is a big chance that it could happen at the end of this week. With a Ministerial in Brussels on Thursday and a G20 summit in Japan on Friday, the leaders of all the key states will be together and the pressure for a deal will be huge.

IFA protest outside European Commission offices in Dublin over Mercosur.

There is little left to discuss at this stage apart from what level of access is granted respectively on the sensitive products. The EU want cars, car parts, industrial goods and pharmaceutical access to Mercosur countries plus recognition of Geographical indicators (GI’s).

The Mercosur countries want beef and sugar access to the EU and the stumbling block is that the EU formal offer of 70,000t of beef isn't meeting Mercosur expectations.

Informally it is known the EU will go as far as 99,000t and there is a real risk that by the end of the week this will be accepted when the sides are together.

The Irish Farmers Journal will be in Brussels this week assessing the mood and reporting on discussions as they develop.

Listen: Mercosur would devastate Irish beef and poultry prices - IFA

IFA to protest against ‘deal with the devil’

Critical week for Mercosur as talks coming to conclusion

There is growing concern that a deal could be concluded this week by Brussels.