Renaissance and RN parliamentarians want more impact studies on European free trade agreements

The document signed Thomas Ménage (RN) and Lysiane Métayer (Renaissance) includes a series of common recommendations despite the “political differences” between them. He proposes in particular to improve "impact studies" and "the transparency of negotiations and the participation of some of the actors concerned", by involving more national parliaments.

“There is no, or no public, systematic assessment of the effects resulting from the conclusion of a free trade agreement,” notes the report.

The two parliamentarians propose entrusting such studies to the European Court of Auditors, "in consultation with entities designated by the Member States".

They point to "several limits" of free trade agreements in general, such as "large disparities between the trade balances of member states".

The report also proposes to "condition the ratification" of future agreements on the acceptance, by the partner states, of environmental standards or relating to working conditions, such as the ratification of the Paris Agreement on the climate.

They also wish to integrate “review clauses” into the agreements, relating in particular to these social and environmental criteria.

This parliamentary work comes at a time when the agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), concluded in 2019, has not yet been ratified due in particular to European environmental concerns.

While Ms. Métayer “conditionally supports” the ratification of an agreement with the Mercosur States, Mr. Ménage says he is opposed.