The organization Attac describes the European Commission’s latest blatant offer to the continent’s farmers as a “shameless” offer. Above all, the famously belligerent, recalcitrant farmers must be ‘bribed’ with a billion dollars into abandoning their opposition to the climate-killing Mercosur deal with South America.
A pro-pact diplomat in Paris promptly described the amount offered as an ‘interesting option’. His compatriots are considered the most bitter opponents of the pact of any EU country. According to the magazine “Politico”, this tax bait is also held in front of the Austrian farmers. However, the Brussels agricultural lobby was promptly rejected by local farmer representatives. “Our promise is not for sale. “We stand by the strict and unwavering no,” said the turquoise team, EU representative Alexander Bernhuber and director of the Lower Austrian farmers’ association Paul Nemecek, as they indignantly rejected the advances.
Will the agreement be finalized on the sidelines of the G20 summit?
The compensation offered is a mockery, an outright farce. Because there would be only ten euros left for every farmer in the Union. Greenpeace boss Alexander Egit is also furious. Nevertheless, the controversial free trade agreement could be finalized this weekend at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Agreement suspended since 2019
The Mercosur group includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and, most recently, Bolivia. The deal would allow the EU and South America to create the largest trading area in the world, with more than 720 million people. The zone would cover almost 20 percent of the world economy and more than 31 percent of global goods exports. However, the fully negotiated agreement has been suspended since 2019. The treaty is controversial in both South America and Europe, especially in Austria and France. French President Emmanuel Macron even declared the trade agreement dead in January. Some countries want to protect their markets, others fear that labor or environmental standards will be weakened.
Austrian economic delegate calms down
The Austrian economic representative in Brazil, Günther Sucher, spoke out in favor of the agreement a few weeks ago. He cannot understand Austrian agriculture’s fear that it will be flooded with cheap meat from the region. The business delegate referred to the quotas negotiated in the agreement, for example regarding beef. Under the agreement, 99,000 tonnes of this per year would enter the EU at reduced rates or even duty-free – in Austria, that would be “one steak per year” (220 grams), according to Sucher.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
