The AGRO-STAR 2022 Federation has called on the European Commission and the European Parliament not to proceed with approving the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, warning that its current form exposes workers and the agricultural sector to social dumping and unfair competition in the absence of adequate safeguards and effective protection mechanisms.

'Ahead of the European Council vote on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, the Federation of Trade Unions in Agriculture, Food, Administration, Research, Tourism and Rural Development AGRO-STAR 2022 said it is joining actions led by the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT), to which it is affiliated. The organisation warned that the agreement exposes workers, leaves agriculture unprotected and makes workers' rights unenforceable, while the European Commission offers little more than a reshuffling of existing EU funds to reassure farmers in the face of expected shocks,' the organisation said in a press release signed by its president, Niculae Stefan.

According to the cited source, without robust safeguards for workers the agreement risks becoming 'yet another source of social dumping, inequality and unfair competition'.

Federation representatives argue that the agreement has a number of shortcomings, including the lack of enforceability of labour standards.

'The agreement fails to bring meaningful improvements in the enforcement of fundamental labour standards. In its current form, it does not contribute to raising labour standards in Mercosur countries, nor does it prevent the social dumping that affects the European Union. Compliance with International Labour Organization conventions remains weak in Mercosur countries, and the agreement lacks credible and binding mechanisms to ensure respect for workers' rights. The chapter on trade and sustainable development must be significantly strengthened and made enforceable,' the organisation said.

The press release also points to inadequate safeguards for the agricultural sector.

:The additional safeguards proposed for agriculture are insufficient and will not effectively mitigate the economic impact of the agreement on the agri-food value chain. Agriculture is an extremely sensitive sector, highly exposed to external shocks, yet this reality is not adequately reflected in the agreement. ‘AGRO-STAR 2022' cannot accept that agriculture and the food industry continue to be treated as bargaining chips to facilitate trade liberalisation in other sectors,' the federation's representatives maintain.

Other shortcomings cited include the lack of a proper socio-economic impact assessment and of accompanying measures. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)