Macron withdraws support for EU-Mercosur agreement on Brazil's conduct

Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday, August 23, the withdrawal of its support for the trade agreement that the European Union signed with the Mercosur countries because of constant violations of Brazil of its environmental commitments, after this week has deepened the tragedy of fires in the Amazon.

The office of the head of the French state said in a statement that it had become clear that the Brazilian president, Jair BolsonaroHe lied to world leaders about his commitment to fighting climate change at this year's G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. In these circumstances, the president can not support the ratification of the trade agreement reached in June, according to the statement.

"Given Brazil's attitude in recent weeks, the President of the Republic notes that President Bolsonaro lied to him at the Osaka (G20) summit," said the French presidency, who regretted that "President Bolsonaro has decided to respect your climate commitments or" biodiversity "." In these circumstances, France is opposed to the agreement Mercosur (with the EU) in the current state, "added Elysium.

Our house burns. Literally The Amazon rainforest – the lungs that produce 20% of the oxygen on our planet – is on fire. It's an international crisis. G7 Summit members, let's discuss this first urgent order in two days! #ActForTheAmazon pic.twitter.com/dogOJj9big

– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 22, 2019

The fires that have spread in the Amazon, one of the main green lungs of planet Earth, have become this week's focus of news and a major diplomatic topic, before the G7 summit that celebrates this weekend in Biarritz (south-west of France).

Macron himself asked Thursday that the issue be addressed in the G7. Bolsonaro responded by accusing his French counterpart on Thursday of acting with "the colonialist mentality" for inviting summit members – to which Brazil is not involved – to discuss the issue.

Alert for the broadcast of Fake News on fires in the Amazon

he free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (composed of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), signed in June after 20 years of negotiations, is strongly criticized in Europe, especially in France, by the agricultural sector or environmentalists.

France subordinated this agreement to Brazil in respect of certain environmental commitments, which was the subject of debate at the recent G20 summit in Osaka, a case to which Brazil belongs.