We want a fresh start for a trade policy

On September 18, the Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International and 42 farmers organisations signed a joint declaration to say no to the EU Trade Agreement!

Trade policy should ensure fair, cost-covering prices, protect the environment and uphold human rights.

On 28 June 2019, the EU Commission reached a political agreement with the Mercosur countries on the EU-Mercosur FTA. During its Council Presidency, Germany announced its will to make "rapid progress" in concluding the agreement. If the EU-Mercosur agreement is actually concluded, imports of agricultural products from an increasingly industrialised agriculture in the Mercosur countries will increase immensely. This would be devastating for farms here in Europe and in the South American Mercosur countries. A deal like this on the tablet would also steal even more land from the Amazon rainforest, which is central to climate and biodiversity. Today, deforestation for the cultivation of soya, agrofuels or cattle pasture and violations of the rights of small farmers are already commonplace.

These are the main reasons why the Biodynamic Federation – Demeter International and the other organisations are jointly calling on their governments to reject this EU-Mercosur agreement in the EU Council. It´s time for a fresh start in the trade policy which is based on: fair and cost-covering producer prices worldwide, high-quality, safe and predominantly regionally produced food, climate protection and biodiversity, animal welfare, the preservation and further development of human rights and fair working conditions worldwide.

 

 

Read the full joint press release:

No to EU-Mercosur agreement 

Peasants and farmers in Europe want a fresh start for a trade policy that enables fair prices, protects the climate and secures human rights, instead of just trying to fix the current model! 

September 2020 

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 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 

More

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