Waitz/EU-Mercosur Agreement: Protection of the Amazon is top priority

Changes must be legally binding

Brussels (OTS) – As early as 2019, the National Council passed a binding resolution on Austria’s rejection of the EU-Mercosur Agreement. On the basis of this, the agreement is also clearly and unequivocally rejected in the intergovernmental agreement. This was discussed at today’s meeting of EU agricultural ministers. The EU Commission is currently promoting an addendum that, among other things, stipulates the protection of the Amazon and the rights of the indigenous people. According to initial information, however, these are not legally binding.

Thomas Waitz, MEP for the Greens and co-chair of the European Green Party says: “The protection of the Amazon rainforest, climate and environmental protection, and respect for human rights must be the focus. The co-determination rights of the national parliaments must not be ignored. The addendum announced by the EU Commission must be integrated into the agreement in a legally binding manner, otherwise European citizens will be duped. It is good that Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig recognizes the pitfalls of the agreement. It is important that Minister of Agriculture Totschnig put the Austrian resistance on the agenda in the Council. However, Economics Minister Martin Kocher, who is already under pressure from the auto industry and business liberals, will decide.”