CEJA, the European council of young farmers, is concerned about the potential harmful outcomes emerging from the EU-Mercosur trade agreement for producers in the most sensitive sectors.

“We do not perceive how the agreement will contribute to the strategic autonomy put forward in the new EU trade strategy, nor how it will enable us to increase our competitiveness, get a fair income and enable our environmental and climate action,” CEJA president Samuel Masse said.

CEJA said it sees the EU-Mercosur deal as vector of confusion when it comes to the offer in food products for consumers.

Coherence on climate

“The concerns expressed by CEJA are even more explicit in the context of the objectives put forward in the European green deal in terms of climate action. On that matter, young farmers advocate for coherence.”

European young farmers want non-EU partners who trade with the EU to also contribute through serious commitments against deforestation, energy efficiency and efforts to lower their environmental footprints.

Balanced policies

CEJA warns that if agri-food products which are not coherent with EU standards are imported, there is a risk that the added value created by EU farmers within the single market is ultimately undermined.

Masse emphasised the need for a balanced trade policy which prevents EU products from unfair competition and urged the EU to not compromise on its standards.

“The EU does not only aim at achieving those objectives within the internal market, but also at inspiring partners all over the world to follow collectively the same ambitious path.”