Brussels, 16/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has given its go-ahead to the agreement on mutual liberalisation of the trade in agricultural produce between the EU and Morocco, signed in December 2010. A majority of MEPs did not, therefore, follow the argument put forward by the rapporteur, José Bové (Greens/EFA), who was against the agreement.
On Thursday 16 February, the European Parliament endorsed by 369 votes to 225 and 31 abstentions the draft free trade agreement for farm and fisheries produce between the EU and Morocco. It did not follow its rapporteur, French ecologist José Bové, who was opposed to ratification of the agreement as it stands. “Those MEPs who endorsed this agreement today should be under no illusion: the agreement is not in the interest of the average Moroccan citizen and not in the interest of the people of Western Sahara”, warned Bové after the vote, warning that trade liberalisation will ruin thousands of small producers not only in Morocco but also in Spain, France and other countries of the southern EU while endangering water resources in Morocco. As it stands, the agreement does not answer the main social, environmental or international law concerns expressed by the Greens, in respect of the Western Sahara. Bové's French colleague, Yannick Jadot, said that, while questions of globalisation-related regulation, fair trade and employment are at the heart of national political debates, Europe is slipping more and more into the impasse of an economic and agricultural system based on productivity and the interests of the agri-food industry, to the detriment of sustainable small production, which creates jobs, food security and respect of the environment in Morocco as in Europe.
The EU-Morocco agreement provides for the immediate liberalisation of trade for 45% of EU exports - a share that will rise to 70% after a ten-year transitional period - and 55% of imports from Morocco. It also provides for an entry price system and tariff quotas for sensitive European products (especially tomatoes), and safeguard measures to be applied if Moroccan imports cause problems on the European market. Tinned products, most fruit and vegetables (apart from beans, almonds and apples), cereals (except soft wheat and durum wheat) and most dairy products (apart from UHT milk and full milk power) from the EU will be fully liberalised within ten years. Tariff quotas for products that are not liberalised (meat, cured products, soft wheat and olive oil) will also be the subject of an increase. Imports of most sensitive Moroccan products onto the European market (tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers, courgettes, clementines and strawberries) will not be fully liberalised, but tariff quotas will be increased while the entry price system will be maintained.
In a related resolution, approved by 398 votes to 175 and 50 abstentions, the Parliament calls on the Commission to ensure strict application of quotas and to step up controls in order to avoid fraud in the entry price system. The resolution also calls for an impact assessment to be carried out on the income of European farmers and producers.
“The approved agreement is fully in line with our new approach and sends a strong message to Morocco and to other southern neighbours about our determination to advance our relationship in a practical way that will have a strong positive impact on citizens both in Morocco and the EU”, commented Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Füle. He went on to conclude: “Today's vote also boosts the credibility of our efforts to establish a close partnership with our neighbours, including in particular the principles of mutual accountability”. (EH/transl.jl)