Activities of Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP related to 2023/0260R(NLE)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part
Amendments (11)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU-Chile Association Agreement, which has been in force since 2003, has significantly expanded bilateral trade, including in the agri-food sector, and now needs to be modernised; whereas Chile’s high dependence on global markets in the agri-food sector has nevertheless primarily benefited large scale, commercial farmers who employ locals on a precarious seasonal basis; whereas for the fruit sector in particular, despite the increase in profits for monoculture farming agribusinesses, this growth might result in a destruction of traditional agriculture based on local livelihoods and negative impacts on biodiversity;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the recent global crises and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have emphasised the fragile nature of the globalized food chain; stresses the need to ensure food sovereignty and self- sufficiency at EU and Member State level; highlights the need for diverse trading partners and reliable value chains; whereas one way to meet this need is to strengthen tradeeconomic and political relations with like- minded partners and to reduce dependence on imports that are beyond our control and might entail negative social and economic impacts;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas trade policy should contribute to raising environmental and animal welfare standards and ensure respect for human rights, particularly indigenous rights, thereby guaranteeing high standards and a level playing fieldhe Strategic Impact Assessment (SIA) warned that an increase in agriculture production as a result of the modernised agreement could negatively impact on the right to water because the growing sectors are relatively water intensive, and water management is already a challenge in Chile; whereas this could have an impact on the environment due to enhanced emissions as a result of increase in agriculture production (e.g. vegetables, fruits, nuts, as well as oilseeds and vegetable oils); whereas indigenous peoples rights could be affected as local communities will be deprived of drinking and sanitation water;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the expansion of production of the export-oriented agricultural sector to fulfil overseas demand of counter-seasonal products, in addition to the unsustainable use of water in the growing mining sector, has exacerbated Chile’s water crisis; whereas Chile is experiencing its longest drought in its history and more than half of Chile’s 19 million population are living in areas with ‘severe water scarcity; furthermore, the increased use of fertilisers and pesticides in Chile endangers soil and water and induces large agricultural runoff, resulting in nutrient contamination and eutrophication of coastal lakes, wetlands and estuaries;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas the huge diversity of plant species and varieties used in agriculture was initially created by local and indigenous communities and farmers over hundreds and thousands of years; whereas the diversity of plants for agricultural use as well as the agrobiodiversity in broader terms is the backbone of sustainable agriculture and plays a crucial role in protecting against plant diseases and adapting to climate change;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the modernisation of trade relations between the EU and Chile through the inclusion of new sustainability provisions in the trade and sustainable development chapter of the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement, plus a review clause to account for changing environmental and social standards; noteregrets, however, that the trade and sustainable development chapter lacks new provisions integrated in the TSD and gender chapters, such as commitments on climate and on the Paris agreement, on core ILO labour conventions and the decent work agenda, on gender equality, biological diversity, deforestation, overfishing and responsible business conduct, are largely cooperation-based and thus non-sanctionsable;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets that, while the Agreement requires both parties to implement Nationally Determined Contributions, neither the Paris Agreement nor the ILO conventions fall under the main dispute settlement chapter; regrets that the trade and sustainable development chapter is not in line wiht the TSD review adopted by the Commission; calls for a review of the TSD chapter within two years of its entry into force and a joint development of clear milestones and implementation roadmaps by both the EU and Chile involving the NDCs; believes that the improvements made in the trade and sustainable development chapter are not sufficient to balance the social and environmental risks posed by the proposed agreed trade liberalisation;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the elimination of tariffs on EU exports, leaving 99.9 % of exports tariff-free; regrets that market opening is not linked to compliance with stricter environmental standards, which risks to lock-in harmful production methods, particularly in agriculture and industry;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Stresses that, in line with the objective of the Green Deal, the EU's long-term growth strategy aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050; stresses that the energy mix used in the maritime sector relies currently almost entirely on fossil fuels; notes that in order to achieve climate neutrality, the EU must reduce transport emissions, including those from maritime transport, by 90% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels); is concerned that the greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport of products from Chile are incompatible with EU's climate commitments;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Rejects the inclusion of Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) in the revised trade deal (Article 25.48); stresses that UPOV-91 is inconsistent with international environmental obligations such as those outlined in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP);
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes that citizens' expectations are evolving and leading to significant changes in the food market, with a consequent increase in demand for locally produced food; stresses the importance of locally produced food, its value to our farmers and the significant positive contribution it can make to our environment; therefore encourages the Commission and the Member States to actively promote the development of local food strategies and to launch initiatives in favour of short supply chains;