Just one week before a potential announcement of a new political agreement of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, +400 civil society organizations, social movements, think tanks and other social groups from Latin America and the European Union, representing millions people demand an end to the negotiations of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. They call it a “toxic deal” that sacrifices people, democracy, and the planet for corporate gain.
Lack of democracy and transparency
Negotiated behind closed doors for over two decades, the EU-Mercosur deal has excluded public input and democratic oversight, with the European Commission’s lack of transparency drawing widespread condemnation, even by its own Ombudsman. The deal’s proposed additional protocol does nothing to address the environmental and sustainable development issues highlighted by a resolution of the European Parliament in 2020.
Julie Zalcman, trade campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe said:
“The efforts by the EU Commission to “split” the deal are nothing but an undemocratic power grab. It would purposefully ignore individual country’s vetoes and the publicly voiced concerns of those most affected – workers, small-scale farmers, Indigenous communities, and women”
Deal undermines environmental and human rights protection
The deal perpetuates exploitative trade structures, promoting harmful agricultural practices that threaten access to healthy, local and fair food and displace local farmers and Indigenous communities.
Francisco Vladimir Silva from Jubileo Sul Brazil and the Frente Brasileira contro o acordo UE-Mercosul continued:
“The EU-Mercosur deal is a poison for biodiversity and rural communities in the Mercosur. It will boost exports of toxic pesticides from Europe to Mercosur countries, including chemicals actually banned in the EU. This deal exacerbates social and environmental inequalities, will drive deforestation, accelerate the climate crisis, and violate human rights.”
No deal with leaders like Milei
In its statement, the undersigning organisations also point out the danger of engaging with leaders and governments in Argentina and Paraguay who deny the climate crisis, while Brazil battles unprecedented droughts; and wildfires devastate forests in the entire region. In Argentina, economic policies under the current president, Javier Milei have plunged millions into poverty, with basic rights curtailed and public services gutted. While EU leaders had reservations signing a deal with former Brazilian President Bolsonaro, they appear less skeptical of similarly dangerous Milei, who is threatening to leave the Paris Agreement. In their statement, NGOs warn that: “The combination of Milei’s disastrous policies and this outdated trade deal is a recipe for catastrophe.“
The entire declaration and all signatories can be found here.
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Stop the EU-Mercosur trade deal
The EU is close to finalising a climate-wrecking trade deal with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – known collectively as Mercosur. But there’s still time to stop it.
