29/08/2019 (Agence Europe) – In view of the numerous fires in the Amazonian rainforest, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called on Thursday 29 August for appropriate mechanisms to enforce the environmental and labour standards provided for in the draft EU-Mercosur agreement. They are therefore calling for the full text of the trade agreement to be published, so that civil society can act more effectively against the practices of the agri-food industry. Most importantly for the organisation, the environmental, social and economic impacts of the trade agreement on employment must be assessed and made public. For the ETUC’s Secretary General, Luca Visentini, pressure must be brought to bear on the occasion of the ratification of the agreement to ensure compliance with the Paris Agreement, as currently envisaged by France and Ireland (see EUROPE 12313/5). (PH)