CORRECTION: Greenpeace on the initially failed EU-Mercosur negotiations: grace period for the environment and agriculture

2023-07-18 18:53:16

EU Commission President Von der Leyen speaks of “existing differences” in the trade pact – Greenpeace continues to call for the disaster pact to be stopped altogether

Brussels/Vienna (OTS) – Greenpeace welcomes the fact that the negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement at the EU-Latin America summit have failed for the time being. Even at this summit meeting, which is presented as crucial for the negotiations, the EU and the Mercosur states could not agree on a joint additional protocol that guarantees the protection of the climate, environment and human rights in the trade pact.
But the danger has not yet been averted: the EU Commission continues to emphasize that it intends to conclude the negotiations before the end of this year. The agreement would not only boost forest destruction in the Amazon and thus fuel the climate crisis. Local agriculture could also get under the wheels. Greenpeace calls on Chancellor Nehammer to continue to defend Austria’s veto and to insist on an end to EU-Mercosur.

“The resistance at all levels against the EU-Mercosur disaster pact is having an effect. The negotiations are stagnating due to the ongoing use. The environment, climate and local agriculture can breathe easy for the time being,” says Melanie Ebner, agricultural expert at Greenpeace in Austria. The EU Commission had planned to press ahead with the negotiations on the trade pact at the EU-Latin America summit in order to agree on a joint additional protocol with the Mercosur countries as quickly as possible. The toothless leaflet previously presented by the EU was intended to give the pact a green coat of paint, without any consequences for violating environmental protection guidelines. However, this was rejected by the Mercosur countries due to fears of sanctions for violations. A counter-proposal for the additional protocol was announced, but has not yet been tabled.

Among other things, the EU-Mercosur Pact provides for an increase in the import quota for cheap beef from the current 200,000 tons to 300,000 tons per year. The import quota for sugar is to be increased by 10,000 tons, while the import quota for bio-ethanol – which is also made from sugar cane – is to be increased by as much as 650,000 tons. The pact would thus further fuel the fire clearance in the Amazon, while sugar beet farmers and cattle breeders in Austria would come under enormous economic pressure. The EU is already importing agricultural goods that are directly responsible for the destruction of 120,000 hectares of forest every year in the four Mercosur countries alone (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay). That’s a soccer field of forest every three minutes.

As early as 2019, the Austrian National Council committed itself to a binding “No” to EU-Mercosur. This decision is still supported by the population: According to a recently published survey by the retail chain SPAR and Greenpeace, a large majority of 87 percent of Austrians reject the trade agreement. “Chancellor Nehammer must continue to defend Austria’s veto at all levels – now and in the future – and reject the trade pact,” demands Ebner.

Questions & contact:

Melanie Ebner
agricultural expert
Greenpeace in Austria
Tel.: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

Annette Stolz
press secretary
Greenpeace in Austria
Tel.: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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