The European Commission’s intention to finalise the trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on 18-19 November is viewed with great concern by the European farming community.
The EU’s agricultural organisations and cooperatives, Copa-Cogeca, the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) and Geopa (Copa’s employers group), which represent farmers and their cooperatives, workers’ unions and employers in the European agricultural sector, are strongly opposed to the ratification of this agreement (see EUROPE 13511/33, 13509/21).
The outcome of the EU/Mercosur agreement negotiations “would expose the EU agri-food sector to unfair competition with negative consequences for farmers’ livelihoods, wages, working conditions and employment” in the EU, according to the organisations. In addition, the current draft does not contribute to raising social and environmental standards in Mercosur countries, and increases the risk of “breaking up regional value chains” in those countries, according to European organisations.
Link to the joint press release: https://aeur.eu/f/e2b (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)