Joint Letter on the EU Mercosur Agreement - The Details

On June 18, 340+ civil society organizations wrote to call on the European Union to use its influence to prevent a worsening human rights and environmental situation in Brazil.

More specifically, they call on the EU to:

1. Immediately halt negotiations for an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.
2. Guarantee that no Brazilian products sold in the EU, nor the financial markets underpinning them, are leading to increases in deforestation, land grabbing of native lands or human rights violations.
3. Demand confirmation, with material evidence, that the Brazilian government will fulfill its commitments as part of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
4. Increase support for Brazilian civil society, including strengthening the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy and proactive consultations with Brazilian civil society organisations that address human rights and the democratic functioning of Brazilian civil society.
5. Monitor and respond to human rights violations—including investigating cases since Bolsonaro’s election—and strengthen mechanisms to protect human rights defenders. For those most at risk, including Indigenous peoples and environmental defenders, the EU should provide direct and urgent support where required, including through political representations.

Categorias: NGO Statements, Brazil