EU–Mercosur: Trade and Sustainability in Focus in Pisa — A Debate on Opportunities and Challenges

The recent trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries will be the focus of the conference “The EU–Mercosur Agreement: Opportunities and Challenges,” scheduled for 17 April at 9:00 a.m. in the Historic Aula Magna of Palazzo della Sapienza in Pisa.

Organised by the University of Pisa in collaboration with the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, within the framework of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence SUSTAIN, the event will provide an opportunity for discussion on one of the most significant issues in European trade policy, addressing its economic, legal, and environmental implications.

Particular attention will be devoted to the second session of the conference, taking place in the afternoon, which will explore the role of the agreement in the fields of agriculture, food, and the environment. Within this context, the session will feature a contribution by Professor Mariagrazia Alabrese, Associate Professor of Agricultural Law at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence SUSTAIN.

Her presentation will focus on the climate and environmental commitments set out in the EU–Mercosur Agreement, analysing their legal scope and binding nature, as well as the potential challenges related to their effective implementation. In particular, the talk will highlight the relationship between trade liberalisation and environmental protection, with a focus on provisions on sustainable development, their consistency with international climate objectives, and their implications for European agri-food systems.

This analysis forms part of the broader debate on the balance between market openness and the safeguarding of environmental standards, offering useful insights into the challenges posed by an agreement that is set to have a significant impact on relations between Europe and Latin America.

The full programme is attached.