Save the date: 3 November, 3 p.m. “Toxic Trade Tour” in Berlin: Photo campaign with poison barrels, toxic pesticide mucus as well as Merz and von der Leyen Doubles in front of the Federal Chancellery
Berlin, 29 October: In the coming weeks, decisive course could be set for the EU-Mercosur agreement. According to the plans of the European Commission, already at the EU Council of Trade Ministers on 24 November decisions on the agreement. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that by the 19th at the latest. In December, all 27 EU leaders will agree to the controversial trade agreement. The European Parliament would then have to vote on the treaty.
Poisonous barrels symbolize the dangers of the agreement
With a Europe-wide protest tour, the ‘Toxic Trade Tour’, more than 45 organisations from Latin America and the EU draw attention to the dangerous consequences of the agreement. On 27 October, the one-month journey of a transporter loaded with venomous barrels began in Vienna.
On Monday, 3 November at 15.00, this poison transporter is expected in Berlin in front of the Federal Chancellery. As part of a rally, the contents of the barrels are poured on Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Doubles). The aim of this action is to draw attention to the dangers of this toxic trade agreement for people and the environment, which are either ignored or openly denied by political decision-makers. At the same time, the tour also advocates an export ban on such pesticides from Bayer, BASF & Co. to the Mercosur countries, which have (no longer) been approved in the EU because of their dangerousness.
"The EU-Mercosur agreement promotes the export of pesticides from the EU to the South American countries of Mercosur, even those pesticides that are already banned in the EU due to their harmfulness to humans and the environment", explains Bettina Müller from PowerShift e.V. "This practice is a non-sense that not only endangers the people of Mercosur, but also European consumers. Because these pesticides end up on our plates again via re-imports. A toxic cycle that does not need to be promoted, but must finally be broken”, says Müller.
The organisations therefore call on EU decision-makers to vote against the EU-Mercosur Agreement.
Other stops of the protest tour include Paris, Madrid and Lisbon. On 24 November, the Toxic Trade Tour will reach its final destination in Brussels, just in time for the EU Council meeting of Trade Ministers.
Action as part of the Europe-wide Toxic Trade Tour in Berlin
Monday, 03.11., 3:00 p.m.
Berlin, Federal Chancellery (in front of the Court of Honour)
Pictures of the action soon here: https://www.picdrop.com/dieprojektoren/GdtrfzDfnL
For questions and interviews: Bettina Müller, bettina.mueller@power-shift.de, 0174 4537604
More information at: https://europeantradejustice.org/toxic-trade-tour/
