16/04/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 16 April, the plenary of the European Parliament gave its consent (627 votes in favour, 11 against, 17 abstentions) to an EU Council decision on the 2015 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives (see EUROPE 11344/10). The Committee on International Trade had also largely validated the agreement on 2 April (see EUROPE 12227/23), after the EU Council on 18 March. This draft legislation, published in 2017, was postponed following differences of opinion between Member States, and between the EU Council and the Commission on the modalities for amending articles and technical elements of the Annexes to the Agreement. Members also complained about the lack of transparency in these talks. They call on the Commission to hereafter provide Parliament with any information relating to changes in the names and definitions of the products concerned. The agreement has been in provisional force since 2017. (HD)