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The European Union must balance its economic interests with its environmental and human rights commitments if it is to remain credible on the global stage, MEP Benoit Cassart told The Brussels Morning Newspaper. In a detailed written statement, he outlined his concerns about the EU’s trade policy with Mercosur, its cooperation agreements with Israel, and the responsibility of democratic parties in countering extremism while addressing humanitarian crises.
Benoit Cassart is a Member of the European Parliament known for his strong stance on environmental and human rights issues. Throughout his career, he has consistently called for greater accountability in EU trade and foreign policy decisions, warning against compromises that weaken the Union’s credibility in defending democratic values and international law.
When asked about the EU’s current approach to trade agreements with Mercosur in the context of environmental commitments and human rights, Cassart was critical:
“The EU’s approach to the Mercosur agreement seems imbalanced: certain sectors may benefit, but this will come at the expense of our food sovereignty and environmental standards. Unlike agreements with partners such as Canada, New Zealand, and Japan, where concerns about human rights and respect for social and environmental standards have not arisen, the Mercosur agreement raises new and fundamental challenges.”
He stressed that the primary issue is deforestation in the Amazon, adding:
“Many NGOs also express concern about the rights of indigenous and forest-dependent populations. While the existing safeguards represent progress, stronger, more binding mechanisms and monitoring are required to prevent the agreement from undermining the EU’s Green Deal and its credibility regarding human rights.”
On the question of challenges Europe faces in demonstrating stronger leadership on human rights particularly in cooperation agreements with Israel the MEP highlighted double standards and weak enforcement.
“One of the main challenges facing Europe is addressing human rights concerns in its cooperation with Israel, particularly regarding the treatment of Palestinians and the expansion of settlements in occupied territories,”
he said. He noted that while Israel remains an important partner,
“these issues undermine the EU’s credibility as a global promoter of human rights. Civil society often accuses the EU of applying double standards when economic and strategic interests take precedence over fundamental rights.”
He further argued that ineffective use of conditionality clauses risks reducing agreements to symbolic gestures, stressing the need for a united EU stance.
Addressing The Brussels Morning’s question about countering extremism while responding to humanitarian crises, the MEP underscored the need for resilience and solidarity.
“The EU already plays a significant role in addressing humanitarian crises, particularly by supporting Palestinians and other vulnerable groups in conflict zones,”
he stated.
He urged democratic parties to “champion multilateralism, uphold international law, and defend the rules of international trade”
while resisting the “brutalisation of international relations.” According to him, investing in education, civic engagement, social cohesion, and transparency is essential to prevent extremism and strengthen democracy.
Cassart concluded by emphasizing that only by aligning its policies with its values can the EU preserve its role as a credible global leader on human rights and international cooperation.
Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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