The European Ombudsman believes that the European Commission should have more thoroughly examined the environmental aspects of the trade agreement with the four South American Mercosur countries. EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly calls it "poor governance" that must be avoided in the future.
The ombudsman addressed a complaint from five environmental organizations. They accuse the Commission of finalizing trade negotiations with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay in June 2019 without conducting an up-to-date assessment of the potential ecological and social impacts.
Not only environmental organizations but also European agricultural associations criticize the EU for imposing various environmental criteria on food production within its own member states, but not on imported food from these Mercosur countries. As a result, the EU is not doing enough to stop the ongoing deforestation of the Brazilian rainforest.
Concluding a trade agreement without first fully investigating its possible consequences risks undermining European values and the public debate about the merits of the agreement, O’Reilly says. She also notes that the EU exposes itself to “criticism that it does not take all concerns seriously.”
The fate of the trade agreement is now uncertain. Several EU governments have also raised objections. To keep the agreement alive, the Commission is currently trying to obtain additional commitments from Brazil.