Greenpeace activists went to the Europa building of the Council of the European Union (EU) on Thursday morning to challenge the trade agreement with the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) when the ministers responsible for it meet in Brussels.
About 20 Greenpeace activists gathered in front of the building hosting the meeting of European trade ministers, five of whom went to the facade to put up posters asking “stop the EU-Mercosur agreement”, the agency found Luca on the spot.
Belgian police are on the scene to prevent pedestrians from passing near the protest area, Lusa has also verified.
Through the social network Twitter, Greenpeace Europe confirms that the activists are “currently climbing the Europa building in Brussels, where EU trade ministers will meet later today to discuss the trade agreement with Mercosur”. A video shows the start of the climb.
ACTION ACTION ACTION!
Greenpeace activists are currently climbing the Europa building in Brussels, where EU trade ministers will meet later today to discuss the #EUMercosur trade agreement
This deal is a disaster for nature, farmers and human rights – it’s time to do that #StopEUMercosur pic.twitter.com/917UaPLuIY
– Greenpeace EU (@GreenpeaceEU) May 25, 2023
According to this non-governmental environmental organization “this agreement is a disaster for nature, for farmers and for human rights”, and therefore “it is time to end the EU-Mercosur agreement”.
“The EU-Mercosur agreement threatens to increase the trade in cheap beef, car parts and toxic pesticides, even those whose use is banned in Europe,” criticizes Greenpeace Europe and calls on European trade ministers to “prevent that the European Union will continue with this toxic deal”.
The EU trade deal with the Mercosur countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – was signed by the parties in 2019, when negotiations concluded, but its ratification has been paralyzed due to environmental reservations from several member states, mainly France.
The EU is currently working on a statement specifying environmental commitments, especially in the case of Brazil, related to curbing deforestation in the Amazon and ensuring compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement.
This trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur involves 25% of the world economy and 780 million people, almost 10% of the world’s population.
This Thursday, during a working lunch in the Trade Council, ministers will discuss the ongoing bilateral negotiations on this trade agreement, the ratification of which remains blocked and on which no progress is expected in the short term.
Source: DN
