France-Spain's alliance to protect imports

France and Spain are satisfied with the new fruit and vegetables’ Common Market Organization (CMO), as emerged during a meeting between the Spanish general secretary for Agriculture Josep Puxeu and the head of the European-International Policy dept. of the French ministry of Agriculture Jean-Marie Aurand. The officials pointed out that the current CMO version is advanced compared to the initial project by the European Commission, fulfilling in most part the requests that France and Spain submitted. In particular, progresses were achieved concerning the request of keeping a transitory period for the aid funds to processed products, as well as the introduction of crisis prevention and management procedures.
The two Countries actually agreed on their mutual cooperation to guarantee observance of imports’ protection procedures. Furthermore, the ministries highlighted the positive development for finding a solution to harmonize authorized active substances in Member States. They also stressed the good results achieved in recent months for the harmonization of maximum levels of residues.
Finally, France and Spain decided to collaborate in order to favour exchange of phyto-sanitary products between the two Countries, recognizing the need to carry out new initiatives within the European Union to consolidate sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls prior to imports.