The European Parliament indicates that, without changes in the environmental agenda, the EU-Mercosur agreement should not be ratified | economy

Item 36 of the document establishes that the EU-Mercosur agreement adds trade opportunities between the blocks, in addition to diversifying the supply chain for the European economy. But it points out that, like all agreements signed by the EU, must ensure that partner products go through the same quality control, equivalence of labor laws and sustainability standards European production chain.

“The agreement contains a binding chapter on sustainable development that must be fully applied, implemented and evaluated, […] including the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and its implementation rules, “says the resolution

“The EU-Mercosur agreement cannot be ratified as is,” the text continues.

The amendment was included by the French bench of the European Parliament. Before approval, this passage nominally quoted the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro.

The proposed text said that there is “Extreme concern about Jair Bolsonaro’s environmental policy, which goes against the commitments signed in the Paris Agreement, particularly with regard to combating global warming and protecting biodiversity.”

Bolsonaro’s name was removed, but the phrase that the agreement could not be ratified in this way was inserted by the French and adopted by the parliamentarians.

THE document has no power to veto the agreement, but it shows the annoyance of the European parliamentarians with the design of the alliance and with the environmental agenda of Mercosur.

Vice President Hamilton Mourão, who coordinates the National Council for Legal Amazon, commented on Wednesday’s vote. He says there is a lot of “noise” on the subject, which can be resolved diplomatically.

“This is all part of the diplomatic work that needs to be done. So, let’s take it easy,” Mourão said. “This is a simple thing, isn’t it? It took 20 years to get it right and it involves many interests, there are many interests there.”

• Environmental problems could ‘get worse’ if Mercosur-EU agreement does not enter into force, says government

According to the vice president, measures like this prosper because the lobby of European farmers is large and the green parties in Europe are strong. In addition, it attributes pressure to countries in the region that are in the electoral process or “going through internal crises.”

Mourão said that the plan to bring ambassadors to the Amazon is still in force. According to government plans, the visits would take place in November, with 12 ambassadors. According to Mourão, the timetable depends on the situation of the pandemic.

“The ambassadors are representatives of the countries here. The great purpose of our trip is for the comrade to go to earth. They don’t go there, do they? So, he has to go there and watch. He’s not just the guy who reads it. that is written”. . The boy has to understand reality ”.

In September, ambassadors from European countries sent a letter to the Brazilian government demanding measures to curb deforestation in the Amazon and warned that the devastation makes it difficult to import Brazilian products.

In the letter sent to Vice President Hamilton Mourão, Belgium and the Amsterdam Declaration sign the Association, a group made up of seven countries: Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The governments of Brazil and France have had their own dispute since the EU-Mercosur agreement was announced in 2019. In the latest chapter of the dispute, the French government reaffirmed last month that it opposes the current version of the treaty after having had access. to a new report on deforestation in Brazil.

France is leading the movement, but has the support of other countries of the European Union, which intend to impose environmental conditions for the negotiations to continue. The idea is to establish sanctions if the Mercosur countries do nothing to prevent an increase in fires or allow mining companies to destroy indigenous reserves.

• Agreement between Mercosur and the European Union: what the text provides

In response, the Brazilian government even issued a note in which it stated that environmental problems could “get worse” if the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union does not enter into force.

“The lack of entry into force of the Mercosur-EU Agreement would send a negative message and would establish a clear disincentive to the country’s efforts to further strengthen its environmental legislation. Furthermore, the non-approval of the agreement would have negative social and economic implications, which could aggravate even more environmental problems in the region ”, declared the Brazilian government.

VIDEOS: Latest Economy News