The European agriculture ministers were divided on Monday 20 March in Brussels over the implementation of the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries.
“The effects of the EU-Mercosur agreement on our agriculture are very limited, because there are clear quotas for imports”, defended Cem Özdemir, the German Minister of Agriculture.
Mr Özdemir noted that the European Commission intends to strengthen the sustainability aspects of the agreement by putting in place monitoring mechanisms through the ‘additional instrument’ currently under negotiation (see EUROPE 13139/1).
The Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, also spoke in favour of the agreement, while stressing the importance of introducing “mirror clauses” for agri-food products. Portugal was also in support of the trade agreement.
On the contrary, Norbert Totschnig, the Austrian Minister of Agriculture, said that his concerns about the environmental and economic aspects of the agreement are “shared by more than a dozen ministers”. According to a note (https://aeur.eu/f/5wx ), Austria is of the view that the agreement “lacks the necessary focus on sustainable agricultural aspects”. The environmental requirements for food products from Mercosur countries are “considerably lower” than those of European countries, according to Vienna, which also criticises the low frequency of controls and the lack of traceability.
Austria therefore asks the Commission to provide more information on the ‘additional instrument’ currently being negotiated, which should improve the environmental dimensions of the agreement.
Furthermore, “the significant negative impact of the agreement on the competitiveness of EU agricultural markets” is not sufficiently taken into account by the Commission, according to Austria.
During the discussion, France is also reported to have asked for commitments from Mercosur to fight deforestation and to respect the Paris Agreement on the climate. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)