During the plenary session (16-19 September 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with the Council and the Commission on the situation and destruction of forests worldwide, as well as in the EU. In July, the Commission adopted a communication outlining action to protect and restore the world’s forests. Statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish minister for European affairs, Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mairead MCGUINNESS (EPP, IE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Martin HOJSÍK (RE, SK) and Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

McGUINNESS, Mairead (EPP, IE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

EU - Brazil (T)

HAUTALA, Heidi (Greens/EFA, FI)

VELLA, Karmenu (MT, EC)

fight against climate change (T)

HOJSÍK, Martin (Renew, SK)

TUPPURAINEN, Tytti (FI)

Amazon forest fires: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish minister for European affairs, The forest fires in the Amazon region are an urgent global crisis which requires an effective international response. Close cooperation with the countries of the Amazon region is crucial. These countries, such as Brazil have the full right to lead the response but they need to live up to their commitments. I strongly appeal to the countries in the Amazon basin and their leaders for urgent action. We are ready to work together with Mr Bolsonaro and others. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, The Commission is committed to sustain action against deforestation and we stand ready to assist those affected by the recent forest fires in the Amazon and across the globe. In anyway that we can and in close cooperation with these countries authorities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS (EPP, IE), We have signed a deal, the Mercosur trade agreement, and we must make sure that the climate and biodiversity commitments contained in that deal with our Mercosur counterparts are honoured and that for us in this House will be key. We need a carrot-stick approach with this issue. We should also as Europeans put our own hands up and say that we not always valued forests or biodiversity or done the right thing for the environment. And perhaps even from that place of humility we can work better with our colleagues in South America. 

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Mr Bolsonaro is promoting a new gold fever with the support of big land owners whilst ignoring environmental protection. In order to do not have to put up with the truth, Mr Bolsonaro has fired the head of Brazil's <i>space</i> agency, the head of environmental and natural resources institute. There is no way back for the Amazon and nearly 20 percent of the rainforest has been already deforested. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin HOJS&#205;K (RE, SK), Not only our contribution to greenhouse gas emission but our own policies, our own trade and our law enforcement is to blame. Is time to change that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), To tackle climate change we need to capture carbon dioxide with all possible means and the only viable large-scale wa available is with the help of forests. However, forests have been converted to agricultural land. Let us be clear. The Mercosur agreement is intended to exports of beef, soy,coffee and other forest risk products that drive deforestation and endanger the Amazon region.