Brussels, 27/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The international trade committee of the European Parliament has given its go-ahead to the agreement on mutual liberalisation of trade in farm products between the EU and Morocco, signed in December 2010. Rapporteur José Bové (Greens/EFA) voted against.
Members of the EP international trade committee approved by 21 votes in favour, 7 against and one abstention, on 26 January, the draft free trade agreement for farm and fisheries products between the EU and Morocco, acting counter to their rapporteur, French ecologist José Bové, who was in favour of refusing ratification of the agreement in Parliament. Bové explained that, as it stands, the agreement would put European farmers in a more difficult competitive situation, which would hinder the development of balanced farming in Morocco and would, in no way, ensure that Morocco will not use child labour or allow its farmers to join trade unions. The French MEP also pointed a finger of blame at the fact that controls were inadequate on quantities of imported goods, that entry prices for Moroccan products were low, and that western Sahara was included in the proposed agreement.
The EU-Morocco agreement provides for immediate trade liberalisation for 45% of EU exports - a share that will rise to 70% after a 10-year transition period - and 55% of imports from Morocco. It also provides for a system of entry prices and tariff quotas for sensitive European products (tomatoes especially), and safeguard measures to be applied should Moroccan imports seriously disturb the European market. Under the proposal, EU tinned goods, most fruits and vegetables (with the exception of beans, almonds or applies), cereals (with the exception of common wheat and durum wheat) and most EU dairy products (with the exception of ultra-high temperature milk and whole milk powder), would be completely liberalised within 10 years. Tariff quotas for non-liberalised products such as meat, cured meat, common wheat or olive oil would also be increased. Imports of the most sensitive Moroccan products to the EU market (tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers, courgettes, clementines and strawberries) would not be liberalised completely but tariff quotas would be increased while the entry price system would be maintained.
The agreement will be put to plenary vote at the next plenary session in Strasbourg in mid-February. (EH/transl.jl)