The EU/Mercosur trade agreement underwent its first test in the European Parliament on Wednesday 12 February. In a text objecting to the authorisation of a genetically modified maize (see other news), three amendments were put to the vote referring to the EU/Mercosur agreement and its consequences for imports of genetically modified foodstuffs. The last of these amendments called on the European Commission and the Member States to abandon the agreement.
This amendment was rejected by 309 votes to 262 with 76 abstentions. In other words, a majority in the European Parliament is not opposed to the EU/Mercosur agreement at this stage.
Tabled by The Left MEPs Emma Fourreau (French), Manon Aubry (French) and Anja Hazekamp (Dutch), the amendment was worded as follows: “Calls on the Commission and the Member States to definitively abandon the signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement as it poses significant risks to health and the environment, undermines the Union’s agricultural sovereignty and is detrimental to farmers”.
However, the amendment on the impact of the EU/Mercosur agreement on imports of GMO foodstuffs was adopted (290 votes in favour, 249 against and 110 abstentions).
See the amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/fgr (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)