Mandate for negotiations with Mercosur

29.3.2017

Question for written answer E-002189-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL)

Negotiations with Mercosur, which were suspended for more than a decade, resumed recently with a first tariff offer being made in May 2006. These negotiations were restarted despite the reservations of several Member States and organisations representing European farmers: they are opposed to agreements that favour free trade, the agribusiness and intensive agriculture, which is a major consumer of pesticides and GMOs.

It should be recalled that the Commission's own studies have confirmed the profoundly negative impact of this agreement on sensitive products such as beef and pork. It is not by chance that 13 Member States requested a revision of the tariff offer made to Mercosur at the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of 23 January.

In light of the above, will the Commission say why the Mercosur negotiating mandate approved by the Council has not yet been disclosed?

Will it also say whether it is willing to reopen the procedure with a view to drawing up a new negotiating mandate, with an open and democratic debate that will ensure the defence of broad swathes of European agriculture?