Amazon: Angela Merkel expresses "serious doubts" on the EU-Mercosur agreement

German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the first time on Friday expressed " serious doubts " about the future of the vast trade agreement between the EU and the South American countries of Mercosur, in the face of the ecological threat hanging over the Amazon rainforest in Brazil . " We have serious doubts that the agreement can be implemented as planned, when we see the situation”In the Amazon, said Chancellor spokesperson Stephan Seibert. This vast free trade agreement was signed last year between the EU and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), but in order to be definitively validated it must still be ratified by all national parliaments, which does not is not the case. The Austrian Parliament, and very recently the Dutch Parliament, rejected the agreement in its current form. Other countries such as Belgium, France, Ireland and Luxembourg have shown themselves to be recalcitrant.

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Until now, Germany has been among the major promoters of this agreement. The remarks made by his government on Friday add to the irritation on the European side. Because the text concentrates the attacks of environmentalists, who fear its impact on the environment. In response to these criticisms, a chapter covering in particular “ forest conservation ” was included in the final text. But the German Chancellor now has " strong concerns " about " continuous deforestation " and " fires ", which have increased in recent weeks in the Amazon, with the summer. “ We are skeptical, ” said Stefan Seibert.

" In this context ", Berlin " raises serious questions about the application as planned " of the agreement, and in particular of this clause. “ The Amazon concerns the whole world, ” added the Chancellor's spokesperson. This is the first time that Angela Merkel has issued such criticisms of this agreement. This position comes the day after a meeting between the Chancellor and the leaders of the Fridays for future movement, in particular Greta Thunberg, in Berlin. " Angela Merkel approved our criticisms of the agreement with Mercosur, and does not intend to sign it ", also affirmed on Twitter Luisa Neubauer, figurehead of the movement in Germany, who participated in the meeting.

The agreement was originally supported by Germany and its powerful exporting industry, especially the automotive industry, which saw the opportunity for new outlets. But ecological concerns, widely shared in German opinion, are gaining more and more weight in the country, where demonstrations regularly bring together thousands of young activists.