19/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – Even before the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur is signed, this treaty continues to make waves in the European Union. After France - whose president, Emmanuel Macron, declared at the end of August 2019 that he would oppose "the Mercosur agreement as it stands" if Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro did not show greater willingness to respect his environmental commitments, followed by Ireland as well, it is Austria's turn to speak up. As new elections are taking place, the Austrian Parliament voted on 18 September against the agreement with the South American bloc, forcing the Viennese government to oppose its future ratification. On Twitter, on 19 September, Bernd Lange, Chairman of the European Parliament's Trade Committee, supported this initiative, while calling for the agreement to be used as leverage to influence Mr Bolsonaro's policy. (HD)