Latin America
An EU trade agreement with Mercosur? The answer is still a no!
Est. 5minWhile negotiations for the EU-Mercosur agreement are currently taking place on a daily basis to speed up the conclusion of the additional protocol, more work needs to be done to match our commitments, writes a group of EU lawmakers.
Nicaragua’s people need a robust EU response
Est. 4minTo protect the rights of Nicaraguans, democratic governments, especially in the Americas and the EU, should strengthen and coordinate their actions effectively, write Carlos Fernando Chamorro and Juanita Goebertus.
EU needs Brazil for a new global strategy
Est. 5minStrengthening European Union relations with Latin America is strategic for Europe, and strengthened EU-Brazil ties could be the key, writes Antoni Comín i Oliveres.
There are many ways to rebuild Brazil: EU-Mercosur trade deal is not one of them
Est. 5minThe EU-Mercosur trade deal will substantially increase the trade in agricultural products, including beef, soy and ethanol, commodities that are directly tied to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and human rights violations, writes Audrey Changoe.
How the Mercosur deal’s ethanol boost contradicts EU green promises
Est. 6minWhile the EU maintains that ethanol has a role to play in Europe’s shift to clean transport, the production of ethanol is damaging the environment and hurting local communities in South America, argues Audrey Changoe.
Mercosur trade deal threatens to wreck EU’s climate credibility
Est. 5minTo pass the EU-Mercosur deal in its current state would set an horrific precedent for future trade deals currently under negotiation and fly in the face of the EU’s landmark Green Deal, write Laurence Tubiana and Ani Toni.
A photo-op with Jair Bolsonaro, anyone?
Est. 5minThe EU must understand that a promise in a trade deal is no substitute for a deforestation control policy – something that’s awfully lacking in Brazil under its far-right regime, writes Marcio Astrini.
The EU must not greenwash the future destruction of the Amazon
Est. 5minAs the political divide over the Mercosur trade deal widens, its advocates argue that shelving it will damage the EU’s credibility. The opposite is true, writes Perrine Fournier.
EU trade policy needs more than just repainting the front door
Est. 4minThe EU's trade policy needs a radical overhaul following Parliament's opposition to the EU-Mercosur treaty, write Raphael Glucksmann and Agnes Jongerius.
Will environmental failings bring down the EU-Mercosur deal?
Est. 5minIt’s taken 20 years to build but Europe’s trade deal with the ‘Mercosur’ group of South American countries is looking increasingly like a rush job – with its environmental and social aspects the most shoddy, writes Amandine Van der Berghe. Amandine …
The EU must face its responsibility for the Amazon fires
Est. 6minOnly with a strong law can European consumers be confident that the production of the food they eat does not fuel the horrendous fires we witness every year in the Amazon, writes Ester Asin.
Five empty chairs remind of Cuba’s regime true nature
Est. 7minThe EU needs to change strategy if it wishes to stand for democracy in Cuba, by opening up to independent civil society, write Anders L. Petersson and Erik Jennische.
The EU needs to drive for democracy in Cuba openly
Est. 6minAgreements with governments that do not intend to respect the principles laid down in the texts are just cynical tools that undermine an international order built on trust, and the current Cuban government is a case in point, write Manuel Cuesta Morúa and Erik Jennische.
Mogherini’s tarnished legacy
Est. 8minParadoxically it was the EU’s closest partner, the United States, that has done most to damage Federica Mogherini's legacy as High Representative with a full-scale assault on the EU’s commitment to multilateralism, writes Fraser Cameron.
Northern Ireland peace pays dividends in Bogota, Bougainville and Beirut
Est. 4minAt a time when the Brexit divorce deal hangs on a magic formula not to harm the Good Friday Agreement, Julian Oliver reminds that Northern Ireland peace served as a model in other parts of the world.
Enhancing cooperation in trade is key to combat piracy
Est. 5minAlmost 10% of clothing and footwear sold in the EU are fakes and the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) defends the need for legally binding instruments to fight piracy when negotiating trade agreements with third countries, writes Christian Archambeau.
The double standards of EU’s dialogue with Cuba
Est. 6minBy talking only to the Cuban government, and ignoring civil society groups, the EU is allowing the Cuban state to continue its programme of repressing democracy and human rights, write Ariadna Mena Rubio, Rosa Maria Payá and Erik Jennische.
As Brazil moves right, what is left for Europe in Latin America?
Est. 6minBrazilian foreign policy under new President Jair Bolsonaro won’t focus on cooperation with neighbours in Latin America, so the EU should double down on its flexible approach to Latin America, says Gustavo Müller.
Human rights, ecology should stand higher than business interests
Est. 6minThe Bishops of Latin America are concerned that the EU is more prompt in negotiating new trade deals than ensuring the respect of basic human rights, when violated by companies who have their headquarters in Europe, writes Cardinal Pedro Barreto.
Mercosur: Don’t sacrifice our food standards and tropical forests for trade
Est. 6minThe trade agreement currently being negotiated by the EU and Morcosur will increase poverty and accelerate the demise of European farmers by subjecting them to unfair competition, argue Perrine Fournier and Yannick Jadot.
The EU is no progressive free trader: It’s exporting chronic diseases to Latin America
Est. 5minIf the EU truly wants to be the global progressive trading power, it needs to make sure its trade policy does not promote ill-health, and instead makes a real contribution to the SDGs, writes George Thurley.
EU unable to contain explosion in unsustainable biodiesel imports
Est. 6minImports of Argentine soy biodiesel, which are among the most unsustainable of biofuels, have exploded in recent months because the EU lost a trade case at the WTO, writes Kristina Wittkopp.
Forcing another free trade deal could result in a more divided Europe
Est. 6minAs trade officials desperately try to move the long-delayed EU-Mercosur agreement forward this week, we must stop and consider that this deal is likely to go far beyond the balance of trade, and increase economic, social and political divisions within both continents, writes Helmut Scholz.
Mercosur free trade deal could fail yet again
Est. 6minThe risk that the EU-Mercosur trade talks get derailed yet again is high, writes Iana Dreyer, spelling out the warning signs.