As the co-legislators enter into new discussions on the ratification of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement, the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) is very concerned about the “harmful outcomes” that such an agreement could have on the EU’s most sensitive agricultural sectors (see EUROPE 12662/4).
CEJA calls for “more coherence” on the trade front in light of the challenges ahead. “While young farmers are willing to seize the opportunities given by international trade, they call on EU decision-makers not to make it a threat to the stability of their activity in the future”, the organisation says.
CEJA President, Samuel Masse, stresses that “we do not perceive how the agreement will contribute to the strategic autonomy put forward in the new EU trade strategy”.
The CEJA considers that the EU/Mercosur agreement is a “vector of confusion” when it comes to the offer in food products to consumers. Indeed, EU farmers strive to produce to high quality and environmental standards, argues CEJA.
Young farmers do not believe that an additional declaration (joint climate commitments) alone will avoid the effects such an agreement could have on EU agriculture. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)