Protection of forest and environmental defenders in the EU (debate)
Mick Wallace (GUE/NGL). – Mr President, the recent murder of two Romanian forest rangers highlights the urgent need to protect Europe’s environmental defenders and to save Europe’s last old—growth forests.
More than 160 environmental defenders were murdered in 2018, and thousands more were criminalised and hounded in countries such as the Philippines, India, Brazil and Colombia.
We do need effective EU legislation that establishes a mandatory human rights and environmental due—diligence framework for companies and financial institutions that are EU—based or that provide goods or services in the EU so as to make companies accountable for the impact of their activities.
We are well aware of the much abuse of forests in Brazil at the moment, with the deforestation that’s taking place. The EU is complicit by the trade deals we’re doing with them. Mercosur will increase deforestation and we should not go down that path. Not only will it destroy small farms in Europe but it is going to destroy more forests. We should not sign that deal.