Joint declaration by European farmers: No to EU-Mercosur agreement

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La Via Campesina | 18 September 2020

Joint declaration by European farmers: No to EU-Mercosur agreement

On 28 June 2019, the EU Commission reached a political agreement with the Mercosur countries on the EU-Mercosur FTA. This would increase the import volumes of beef, poultry and pork, as well as sugar, agrofuels and soya from these countries into the EU. Mutual market opening is also envisaged for some dairy products, despite the fact that all these markets are already under enormous pressure. During its Council Presidency, Germany wants to make "rapid progress" in concluding the agreement.

In the Mercosur countries, soya, sugar and meat production, for example, is becoming increasingly industrialised, mainly in connection with the aggressive export-orientated model. The Amazon, which is central to climate and biodiversity worldwide, is forced to give way to this model. Human rights violations are also occurring in connection with this development.

Peasants and farmers in Europe are facing major challenges in producing climate-friendly and animal-friendly food, which means higher costs for farms. However, rising and cheap imports from the Mercosur countries are leading to increasing price pressure on European peasants and farmers. This trade policy and the unequal production, environmental and social standards relating to the agricultural industry are accelerating the demise of peasants and farmers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Peasants and farmers in Europe are jointly calling on their governments to reject this EU- Mercosur agreement in the EU Council.

Instead, Europe needs a trade policy which is based on:

  • farm structures and fair and cost-covering producer prices worldwide
  • high-quality, safe and predominantly regionally produced food
  • climate protection, animal welfare and biodiversity worldwide
  • the preservation and further development of European standards
  • human rights and fair working conditions worldwide

The signatory farmers’ organisations

European and International Association
European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) European Milk Board (EMB)
Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International

Austria
Bio-Verband Erde & Saat
Grüne Bäuerinnen und Bauern IG-Milch
Land & Forst Betriebe Österreich Land schafft Verbindung Österreich Landwirtschaft verbindet Österreich ÖBV-Via Campesina Austria
Perspektive Landwirtschaft
SPÖ Bäuerinnen und Bauern Unabhängiger Bauernverband (UBV)

Belgium
Entraide et Fraternité
Fédération Unie de Groupements d’Éleveurs et d’Agriculteurs (FUGEA)
Flemish Milk Board (FMB)
Milcherzeuger Interessengemeinschaft (MIG)
Mouvement d’Action Paysanne (MAP)

Croatia
Udruga OPGH Život (Association of Croatian family farms Life)
Udruga proizvođača agruma i povrća Neretvanska mladež

Denmark
Landsforeningen af Danske Mælkeproducenter (LDM)

España
COAG-Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Agricultores y Ganaderos
EHNE Bizkaia (Euskal Herria/País Vasco)
SLG Sindicato Labrego Galego (Galizia)

France
Association des Producteurs de Lait Indépendants (APLI)
Confédération Paysanne
Coordination Rurale (CR)

Germany
Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft (AbL) Demeter
Land schafft Verbindung Deutschland e.V. i.G.
MEG Milch Board

Italy
Centro Internazionale Crocevia

Lithuania
Lietuvos pieno gamintojų asociacija (LPGA)

Luxembourg
Luxembourg Dairy Board (LDB)

Netherlands
Agractie Nederland
Dutch Dairymen Board (DDB
Nederlandse Akkerbouw Vakbond (NAV) Nederlandse Melkveehouders Vakbond (NMV) Toekomstboeren

Norway
Bondesolidaritet

Portugal
CNA - Confederação Nacional da Agricultura

Switzerland
Uniterre

source : La Via Campesina

Printed from: https://www.bilaterals.org/./?joint-declaration-by-european