France says that European Commission wants to ‘impose’ agreement between Mercosur and EU

The French Minister of Agriculture raised the tone on Wednesday (25) against the European Commission, that she accuses of wanting to “impose” the agreement between the EU and the South American countries of Mercosurbut there is uncertainties about the capacity of France to block this trade agreement. “The concerns are intense because the commission wants to impose its will. This is very serious. States have not really been involved in the negotiation. Farmers, even less,” Annie Genevard has been indicated alongside their Polish counterpart, Czaw Siekierski, who shares his concerns. “We are being supported in our struggle for Hungary, Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, Romania, Italy, who expressed their great concerns. It is necessary that the committee has qualified majority to approve this text. This is not guaranteed,” she added, also mentioning Belgium’s commitment.

These countries issued reserves, but not all clearly indicated whether they would abstain or vote against. The minority of blockade-at least four council member states, representing more than 35% of the European Union population-does not seem guaranteed to the minister, who has been close to it for weeks, although “not sure of anything”, and multiplied travel to block the adoption of the Commercial Treaty between the European Union and Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). “We could make a joint statement (with the Italian minister) on Friday in Rome. Italy has the same reserves as us,” she said on Wednesday, although the country, heavy weight in the vote, has not clearly nominated its decision.

A European official said on Tuesday that “the proposal for a signature and conclusion would be adopted by the commission before the end of the month” of June. “Some speak from June 30, we don’t know. But anyway, if the commission ventured to pass quickly and impose, it will meet us … In its way,” Annie Genevard threatened, adding that this could “take farmers back to the streets.” “What sense would have a decision made by the commission while a majority would not be favorable to her,” she said.

PAC also “threatened”

The text provides for the possibility of the EU export, in particular, more cars, machines or distilled drinks. In contrast, it would facilitate the entry of meat, sugar, rice, honey and South American soy. European Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen said on Tuesday that guarantees to protect unfair competition farmers were enough and rejected the idea of ​​an “additional protocol” mentioned by President Emmanuel Macron during the president’s visit Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvawho pressed for a quick adoption.

On Wednesday, Annie Genevard stated that it would be the responsibility of the president to explain that such an additional protocol would consist of. She said she had proposed on Tuesday to the 27 agriculture ministers, of which fifteen were favorable, a measure providing for an “automatic clause” for “all free trade treaties” regarding “maximum waste limits” of pesticides in imported products.

Thus, “no treated product” with a forbidden pesticide in Europe could “pass the borders of the European market,” she added without further details. Asked about the deadlines or the legislative instrument that would allow this clause to introduce, the minister did not respond. Annie Genevard’s criticism has also turned to the “Commission on Commission Commission Projects”, while negotiations about the next PAC are just beginning.

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Asked if these projects were officially communicated by the Commission, the Ministry did not respond. “PAC is threatened in its budget and its common character (…),” warned the minister. The hypotheses of a fusion of PAC backgrounds with funds directed to other sectors and their renationalization, mentioned in Brussels for months without official communication of the committee so far, “are truly a danger,” according to Genevard.

*With information from AFP
Posted by Fernando Dias