Equerra introduces a motion which also moves for the creation of a public trademark for Catalan products

Esquerra Republicana introduces a motion to reject the Mercosur free trade agreement in the Catalan Parliament. The chamber will have to take a position on the trade agreement just days after last Friday’s decision by the European Commission to go ahead on its own account and apply it provisionally.

Esquerra will therefore seek a NO vote in Parliament against Mercosur, echoing the discontent of Catalan farmers, which was the focus of protests for several months. The chamber had already rejected the European Union treaty last year in another motion by Esquerra. On that occasion, president Salvador Illa’s government distanced itself from the majority opinion of the chamber and both his PSC party—the Catalan branch of the Spanish socialists—and the Spanish conservative PP voted against the draft.

In addition to the rejection of Mercosur, Esquerra also wants a public trademark for Catalan agricultural food products to be created. This already exists in other territories such as the Basque Country or Galicia. The objective is to clearly identify products from Catalonia with a seal, regardless of the commercial policy of each distribution chain or supermarket.

Consumers would thus have a Catalan label ensuring quality products from Catalonia with specific controls. This initiative allows Catalan products to be promoted and, at the same time, identified in the market.

In addition to the complaints on Mercosur and the promotion of the Catalan brand, Esquerra will also put to the vote motions regarding the management of the outbreak of African swine fever in the plenary. Esquerra wants the Government to intensify control of wild boar populations to reduce risks of viral outbreaks and to present reports on the evolution of the crisis.