Both Ireland and France have said they will oppose the upcoming free trade agreement between the EU and several South American countries over Brazil’s handling of the Amazon rainforest fires.
The Taoiseach joined the French President in declaring that Ireland would oppose the ratification of the Mercosur deal over Brazil’s handling of the environmental disaster
“There is no way that Ireland will vote for the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement if Brazil does not honour its environmental commitments,” Varadkar said.
The G7 nations are set to meet Biarritz, France over the weekend and France’s President Emmanuel Macron has accused the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro of lying to him at the G20 in Japan earlier this year when the South American leader gave him some commitments on climate change.
Speaking to the AFP a French government official said, “The decisions and comments of Brazil show that President Bolsonaro has decided not to respect his commitments on the climate or biodiversity,”.
However, Ireland and France will need the support of some other EU members to form a blocking minority to stop the deal.
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