PRESS RELEASE

On 9 January 2026, the Council of the EU adopted two decisions authorising the signature of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) between the EU and Mercosur. While these decisions advance the ratification process despite the wide citizens, young farmers and peasants’ protests on both sides of the Atlantic, the agreements still require the consent of the European Parliament, where elected Members retain the possibility to vote against them. 

Agroecology Europe (AEEU) expresses full solidarity with the peasants, small-medium enterprises, and citizens that will bear the costs of this free trade agreement, highlighting how large commercial interests are favoured over small farmers regardless of the recent studies estimating the negative impacts on sustainable agriculture, food systems, environment and society (Ambroziak et al., 2025; Toulouse School of Economics, 2020; Transnational Institute, 2022).

Should the agreement be ratified by all institutions, one thing is clear: countries and regions across the Atlantic urgently need to intensify policy, science, and cooperation efforts in agroecology as a strategic direction of agri-food systems, not as a niche alternative. Agroecology offers a coherent framework to address fair trade, climate action, soil health, public health, animal welfare, safe labour conditions, resilient rural economies, and international solidarity in a systemic way.

Photo credits: Matteo Metta, Agroecology Europe