The deputies adopted Tuesday, June 13 a transpartisan resolution denouncing the current content of the free trade agreement with Mercosur, and calling on the government to have a possible new version of the text ratified before Parliament.
The trade agreement concluded between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) in 2019 has not been ratified, the Europeans worrying in particular about consequences on the environment. This free trade agreement “is not the right one, the copy must be reworked, in complete transparency”MP Pascal Lecamp (MoDem) insisted on Tuesday.
The resolution, which is not binding, was adopted by 281 votes to 58. It calls in particular on the government to notify Brussels of its opposition to the agreement if it is not conditional “in compliance with European production standards”. It also calls for suspensive clauses in the event of non-compliance with the Paris climate agreements.
In response, the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Olivier Becht, assured that the “compliance with the Paris agreements”, “taking into account EU social and health standards”and the establishment of “penalty mechanisms” would be conditions for France to sign.
A “virtuous free trade agreement”, “that does not exist”
The resolution, co-signed by MEPs from nine groups, also calls on France to oppose the trade aspect of the draft agreement being separated from the rest. It thus intends to influence the European procedure and impose a vote on the“unanimity of member states”. The text also calls for ratification to take place before national parliaments.
Most of the presidential camp and a large part of the opposition voted in favor. “It’s because we are against Mercosur” in itself “that we will vote for this resolution”insisted on distinguishing the communist Sébastien Jumel, considering that she was the “the only way to force the government to come and discuss”. Marie Pochon (Europe Ecologie-Les Verts) regretted that she did not sufficiently mention the limits of “mirror clauses” Or “human rights”but was pleased that the resolution calls for a vote of the national representation: “We can reject this agreement. »
The group La France insoumise, on the other hand, voted against, believing that the resolution opened the door to the concept of a “virtuous free trade agreement”. ” It does not exist “, insisted Aurélie Trouvé. A notable exception: the deputy François Ruffin voted for. Assuming a “tactical difference”he acknowledged that the resolution “didn’t go far enough”but hopes to use it as “fulcrum” to support “the powerful opposition in the country” to this agreement.
Emmanuel Macron said in February that an EU-Mercosur agreement would not be ” Not possible “ if the Mercosur countries did not respect the same environmental constraints as the EU countries. Brazilian President Lula said on Monday that the ” mistrust “ could not guide the trade agreement.