Berlin, 24.11.2025: A broad alliance of more than 50 organisations from German civil society today published a joint call to the Federal Government. In it, the signatories call on the government to refuse to approve the planned EU-Mercosur trade agreement. The call falls deliberately into a week in which farmers and civil society groups protest in Strasbourg and Brussels. Parallel to the plenary session of the European Parliament and the meeting of EU trade ministers.
Already in the run-up to the protests, a parliamentary process in Brussels caused outrage: An over-fractional motion for a resolution, which was to be put to the vote in the European Parliament this week, was not put on the agenda in the short term and without justification by EP President Roberta Metsola. The request, supported by more than 140 MEPs from 21 Member States, should have had the compatibility of the EU-Mercosur agreement with the EU Treaties examined by the European Court of Justice. The call's signatories see the President's actions as a serious interference in democratic processes and a disturbing signal when dealing with parliamentary initiatives.
According to the EU Commission, the trade agreement between the EU and the four Mercosur countries could be signed before the end of the year. A unanimous vote by the Member States is required for a decision to be taken in the Council. The last possible date for this year is the Council meeting on the 18th and 19th. December.
The organisations involved in the call strongly warn of the environmental, social and health consequences of the agreement. Key points of criticism include:
- Endangering forest and climate action: The agreement undermines existing European efforts and puts future environmental regulations under pressure.
- Increase in trade in pesticides: An increase in the export and use of highly hazardous pesticides in Mercosur countries poses significant risks to health and the environment.
- Re-importation of prohibited substances: Through supply chains, pesticides that are banned in the EU due to their harmfulness could re-enter the European market.
- Negative consequences for smallholder agriculture and labour rights: The agreement would increase competitive pressure and further burden farmers in Mercosur and workers in vulnerable sectors in particular.
- Threat to Indigenous Territories: Indigenous communities fear that the agreement would further increase pressure on their territories.
Against the background of these significant risks, the Alliance criticises the fact that such a far-reaching and controversial trade agreement is being pushed forward under political pressure and without a comprehensive democratic debate.
The full call and the list of all signatory organisations can be found here: https://www.gerechter-welthandel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Aufruf-EU-Mercosur-stoppen.pdf
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
- Bettina Müller, Trade and Investment Policy Officer at PowerShift, bettina.mueller@power-shift.de, Tel.: 0174 4537604
- Ludwig Essig, Coordinator Network of Fair World Trade, essig@forumue.de, Tel.: 0176 546 752 53
