Tomatoes from the Sahara excluded from tariff advantages with Morocco

According to the latest statement from the Spanish exporters federation FEPEX, the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament addressed, in its last session, two interventions of Spanish members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Carmen Crespo and Mireia Borrás Pabón, who asked the European Commission to review the Agreement between the EU and Morocco, considering that its implementation is causing serious damage to the Spanish tomato producers and to comply with the judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU on the Sahara of October 4, 2024, which establish the exclusion of Saharan productions of the tariff advantages of the Association Agreement and the obligation to identify the country of origin.

An "unacceptable imbalance" according to the Popular Group

In the session of July 17, the MEP of the Popular Group, Carmen Crespo, called for an urgent review of the Agreement between the European Union and Morocco, considering that its current application is generating an "unacceptable imbalance" in the European fruit and vegetable market, especially in Southern Spain. Carmen Crespo called for effective reciprocity mechanisms, binding quotas and the establishment of strict controls on the origin of production.

Effectiveness of the EU-Morocco association agreement in question

The Spanish MEP also warned of the ineffective implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Morocco and in particular the control on entry prices of Moroccan tomatoes, warning of a possible tax evasion estimated at 70 million euros. The MEP demanded that, if tax evasion is confirmed, Morocco is required to demand financial compensation commensurate with the damage caused, and calls for the activation of safeguard mechanisms to protect the European agricultural sector.

Call for action

For her part, the MEP of the Patriots Group, Mireia Borrás Pabón, demanded that the Commission act to comply with the judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU of 4 October 2024, in order to exclude Saharan products from the tariff advantages of the Association Agreement and the obligation to identify the country of origin. The Spanish MEP stressed that almost a year after these judgments were issued, the European Commission has not explained how it will implement them and should do so urgently since Moroccan tomato imports are causing serious damage to Spanish producers. After these interventions, the European Commission is expected to respond in writing to the requests made.

Spanish production down 31% in 10 years

Spanish tomato imports from Morocco have grown by 269% in the last ten years, from 18,045 tons in 2014 to 66,624 tons in 2024, while Spanish production has fallen by 31% in the same period, from 2,320,990 tons in 2014 to 1,649,750 tons in 2024. In turn, exports to the European Union have gone from 786,599 tons in 2014 to 591,098 tons in 2024, (excluding the United Kingdom) reducing by 25%.

For more information on the official position of FEPEX, you can write here.