1. What is the key message of the briefing
EU-Mercosur agreement threatens climate and forest protection
Despite persistent political objections in several EU Member States, social protests and the European Parliament's decision to have the EU-Mercosur Agreement examined by the European Court of Justice, the European Commission decided at the end of February to provisionally apply it. Above all, geopolitical and trade policy interests are decisive.
However, from a climate and environmental perspective, there are considerable doubts as to the compatibility of the agreement with the European climate targets. The briefing "Oil in the fire of the climate crisis - the EU-Mercosur Agreement" analyses the key impacts and identifies options for a coherent, climate-friendly trade policy.
2. Why this is relevant
- More deforestation
Export-oriented agriculture for the EU market is a key driver of deforestation in Mercosur. - Increased emissions
Increasing trade increases production and transport emissions. - Weak environmental protection
Agreement rules can put pressure on EU environmental action.
3. What is the political contradiction
While the EU is stepping up climate action, the agreement facilitates:
- Trade in high-emission agricultural products
- Export of climate-damaging technologies
- Expansion of commodity-based economic models
4. What is necessary now
- No trade benefits for deforestation- or climate-damaging goods
- Aligning trade policy with climate objectives
- Reduce consumption and import pressure
Press & Background
For interviews, audio and data please contact:
Adrian Bornmann
Speaker for press and public relations
Bettina Müller
Trade and Investment Policy Officer
