Mercusor deal, protested against by 27,000 people in Athlone, to be provisionally implemented

The Mercosur trade agreement between the EU and South America will be provisionally implemented.

Uruguay and Argentina became the first countries to ratify the deal, with more expected to follow.

The European Parliament has yet to give its backing to the agreement.

27,000 people protested against the deal in Athlone last month.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the deal will be 'provisionally applied.'

She says the backing of countries in South America is an important development :

Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly jointly organised the Athlone protest.

He's very annoyed with today's news: