Stocker and Meinl-Reisinger want to review Mercosur Agreement

Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) expressed cautious optimism about the Mercosur agreement. Stocker and Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that they were not familiar with the current proposal and highlighted the existing parliamentary resolution against Mercosur. The Chancellor stated he would be pleased if approval could be achieved in parliament.

Mercosur Agreement: Meinl-Reisinger and Stocker for Free Trade

The Austrian parliament opposed Mercosur in 2021. The government must adhere to this decision, emphasized both Stocker and Meinl-Reisinger, as well as Vice Chancellor and SPÖ leader Andreas Babler on the sidelines of the government retreat on Wednesday. However, the NEOS leader stated she would welcome a parliamentary resolution for the agreement. Her party has "always been very clearly pro-free trade" and did not participate in the parliamentary resolution. However, concerns must be taken seriously.

In principle, ÖVP leader Stocker also spoke "in times like these" in favor of free trade. However, he emphasized that there are concerns in agriculture and the environment not only in Austria. Countries like France, Italy, and Poland have also expressed criticism in the past. When the final proposal comes, it will be reviewed to see if a different majority in parliament can be achieved, said Stocker. Reportedly, "a lot has been taken into account" in the proposal.

"This offers a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our competitiveness," said EU Council President Antonio Costa in Vienna at another press conference with Chancellor Stocker. This is especially true for Austria and its significant trade surplus with Mercosur. The agreement is important for new products and services. "We need this new Mercosur agreement. I think these are also good news for Austria because it will also drive your exports to this very important market."

Totschnig Can Live with Agreement with Protection Mechanisms for Farmers

In the People's Party - the Farmers' Association was always against, the Economic Association always in favor - a cautious yes to the agreement emerged in the afternoon. This was evident from a joint written statement by Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (both ÖVP) to the APA. "Especially against the backdrop of currently massively changing international trade relations, we share a common understanding of the great importance of international trade and fair trade agreements for Austria's economic location. Our agriculture also benefits from the export economy," they stated.

Furthermore, Totschnig from the Farmers' Association and the Economic Minister were quoted: "As an export-oriented country, open markets and clear rules are essential for our economic success and competitiveness. Especially in the context of the Mercosur agreement, the legitimate concerns of farming families must be taken very seriously - they ensure regional supply, jobs in rural areas, and are a backbone of our country. Therefore, appropriate protection mechanisms, close monitoring, and a crisis fund for possible negative impacts are central for agriculture. The current Austrian position on Mercosur is known, but of course, we will carefully examine and evaluate the EU Commission's proposal together with experts."

Babler Wants to Review Criteria of Mercosur Agreement

SPÖ leader and Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler did not want to express support for or against the free trade agreement. It is about the conditions and criteria under which free trade takes place, he said - such as worker protection, ecological issues, air standards, and the future of small-scale farming in Austria. One must wait until the proposal is available.

The EU Commission initiated the final voting procedure on Wednesday, with the legal texts for the agreements with the Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to be presented to the member states. In Austria, only the NEOS had previously shown openness to the agreement in parliament, with the farmers' wing of the ÖVP being opposed and the economic wing being supportive. The SPÖ was critical, while the FPÖ and the Greens were against it.

Greens Remain Critical of Mercosur Agreement

The position of the Greens has not changed. It is not about whether to trade, but "how and at whose expense," said federal spokesperson Leonore Gewessler in a press statement. The National Council's rejection was "completely appropriate." If the agreement were to "cut off the branch on which small-scale agriculture in Austria sits," "nothing would be gained, but much would be lost."

The Chamber of Agriculture (LKÖ) and the ÖVP Farmers' Association once again expressed strong criticism. The agreement runs "completely counter to our efforts to secure our family farming, supply security, and climate and environmental protection," emphasized LKÖ President Josef Moosbrugger. Farmers' Association President Georg Strasser considers the pact "unfair and unbalanced," and the parliamentary decision should therefore not be shaken.

For Sebastian Theissing-Matei of the environmental organization Greenpeace, nothing changes "in the fundamental problem," namely the "money rain for large corporations - at the expense of nature." Global 2000 also sees "a clear contradiction to climate and environmental protection goals." The globalization-critical Attac fears that "undemocratic procedural tricks" could bypass national parliaments.

Tyrol's Deputy Governor Geisler Clearly Against Mercosur Agreement

On Wednesday, Tyrol's ÖVP Deputy Governor Josef Geisler, in his role as chairman of the Farmers' Association, also sharply opposed the Mercosur agreement. "Imported cheap goods from South America, produced under significantly lower standards, distort the market and endanger the existence of our family farms," Geisler explained in a statement, among other things.

Industry Supports Mercosur Agreement

The agreement is known to find supporters among the ranks of the industry. Even in light of the current recession in Austria, trade agreements are an important economic stimulus for the domestic economy, and it is now up to the member states to "open the window for growth, jobs, and exports," said the Secretary General of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Christoph Neumayer.

(APA/Red)

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