Lula criticizes the demands of the European Union in the agreement with Mercosur

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the increased demands made by the European Union to close the agreement with Mercosur. In his statement to the press this Monday (12), before President Ursula von der Leyen, the Brazilian complained about the device that provides for sanctions for non-compliance with obligations of countries in the pact.

“I explained to President von der Leyen Brazil’s concerns with the additional instrument to the agreement, presented by the European Union in March of this year, which expands Brazil’s obligations and makes them subject to sanctions in case of non-compliance. The premise that must exist between strategic partners is mutual trust, not mistrust and sanctions,” he said.

For him, the bloc has placed obstacles against Brazilian agribusiness that go beyond the environmental issue.

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“The European Union has passed its own laws with extraterritorial effects and which change the balance of the agreement. These initiatives pose potential restrictions on Brazil’s agricultural and industrial exports,” he said.

Without getting into the controversy, Ursula von der Leyen said that “the time has come to conclude the agreement”.

“We have the ambition to finish it by the end of the year at the latest. I believe there are great advantages for both sides. It will create the right conditions for investments to flow and supports the resumption of industrialization in Brazil”, said the president of the European Union.

Partnership

Lula recalled that the European Union is Brazil’s second largest trading partner and trade could surpass the US$ 100 billion mark this year.

“Brazil also stands out as the largest destination for Foreign Direct Investment from European Union countries in Latin America, which are concentrated in the manufacturing, digital infrastructure and services sectors”, he recalled.

He reiterated to her the government’s desire to build a positive bilateral agenda. “With active cooperation, we can open up beneficial horizons in several areas. The path must be the formation of partnerships for sustainable development”, she defended.

In addition to these topics, Lula highlighted the need to reform global governance and expectations for the Brazilian presidency of the G20.

“I indicated that our priorities will include sustainable development, centered on the fight against climate change, poverty and inequality”, he pointed out.

amazon

In her speech to the press, Ursula von der Leyen announced an investment of €450 million in the Amazon through the Global Gateway, the bloc’s international investment program.

Of this total, €20 million will be earmarked for the Amazon Fund and €430 million to help the Lula government bring deforestation to zero in the region by 2030.

“We talked about the Amazon rainforest, which is a wonder of nature, the green lung of our planet and a great ally against climate change. So, we want to contribute 20 million euros to the Amazon Fund, in which the member states will also have to contribute”, he said.