GPS-Paddy Ashdown Forum-European Liberal Forum-We Are Innovation
1 de diciembre de 2022
It is recognised that the main concerns that surround the EU–Mercosur FTA relate to the deforestation of the Amazon, the overall intensive agro-industrial model of the Mercosur countries, and Brazil’s weak commitment to the Paris Agreement under President Jair Bolsonaro.
The scope of its trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapter is seen to be both limited, and its enforcement mechanisms too weak. However, it can be argued that there is currently no trade agreement that could solve the Mercosur countries’ many crucial climate and environmental challenges. However, if the EU is to take its sustainable development – and new green deal - objectives seriously, it has every opportunity to leverage its trade power - and tools - to the fullest extent.
Consequently, The European Commission has at hand an opportunity to utilise all the legal instruments to guarantee strong TSD commitments from the Mercosur countries: this includes strong monitoring and implementation procedures using the joint association agreement (AA) bodies. At a time of global tension, this is an opportunity to create calm through strong collaboration and exchange that tackles the multiple issues of climate change, environmental degradation and the diminishing services of the biosphere simultaneously alongside improving the well-being of millions who rely upon peace, security, and shared prosperity. To develop peoples’ talents, foster diversity and nurture creativity sustained by a strong market economy that offers all people real choices.
Martín E. Piñeiro, Argentine Council for Foreign Relations (CARI) Group of Producing Countries from the Southern Cone (GPS)
Arantza Gomez AranaSenior Lecturer in International Relations at Northumbria University, Elected committee member UACES and a co-convenor of the BISA European Security Working Group.
Series «The EU-Mercosur agreement»
Negotiations on the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur nations of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay have taken more than 20 years. For many, this free trade agreement is seen as undermining the EU's climate ambitions, as well as being a threat to sustainability on the South American continent. The webinar series will provide accurate and validated expertise on this Agreement, the criticism it has provoked, and its impact on climate and the environment. In addition to the webinars, a series of articles written by the experts will be published.
The four webinars discussed the following topics:
Protectionism: does it show its face?
How can cooperation strengthen food security?
Free trade as a tool to save the environment
Where is the EU/Mercosur FTA going and why is it important?
