Proposals on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement and the Environment

Together with an interdisciplinary group of academic experts, we were invited to develop a set of practical proposals to address serious environmental issues raised by the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement (EUMAA).
 
While recognising the broader developmental and human rights context in which EUMAA is taking place, the statement concentrates on five priority issues:

(1) Addressing deforestation in the Amazon and in other biomes;
(2) Combating broader issues of climate change and environmental degradation;
(3) Recognising the asymmetry of the trading relationship between the EU and Mercosur and its impacts on the sustainable development of the Mercosur region;
(4) Improving the evidence base and consultation arrangements in relation to the environmental impacts of the EUMAA and future agreements;
(5) Supporting the environmental efforts of civil society organisations (CSOs).

These proposals, which were published at the University of Warwick website and sent to members of the European Parliament, European Commission, national governments and civil society organisations, are intended to serve as benchmarks against which to measure environmental reforms to the EUMAA that are currently being negotiated by the EU and Mercosur countries.