Brussels, 28/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - A European Commission delegation is in Tunisia on Monday to begin the first "exploratory discussions" before review of the EU/Tunisia agricultural trade regimes. This meeting was organised in the context of the association agreement which came into force in March 1988.
The examination will be carried out according to the line set out in this agreement. From early 2000, the body of law (with correction of possible erosions) will be reinforced and account taken of the current and future potential of Tunisian agricultural production development, encouraged by cooperation with the European Union.
The conversations begun will make it possible to define the various points to be tackled during coming weeks. The Tunisians for their part give their assurance that they will commit themselves to this round of technical consultations in a "spirit of partnership". They will also take into account the requests made by the EU concerning certain European products. Even though agriculture does not come into the approach towards total liberalisation and reciprocity of trade, they plan to link the agricultural and industrial sectors. In so doing, they hope to obtain means to encourage processing on site of their farm produce and to thus develop their industrial food processing sector. Above all, their olive oil should be covered by new arrangements to be agreed and integrated into the programmes for enhancing national agricultural products.
For Tunisia, the exportation of olive oil towards Europe represents a sensitive subject with high social connotation. It thus hopes not only to obtain extension of the specific arrangement which ensures a guaranteed annual outlet of 46,000 tonnes but to make this a permanent provision within the association agreement, for 56,000 tonnes annually. Significant concessions in this field would be seen by the Tunisian public and by cautious, if not distrustful, operators in their analysis on the advantages of cooperation with the EU as compensation for the "sacrifices" made in the manufacturing field. We recall that Tunisia has begun, in this third year of enforcement of the law, a new phase in its process for dismantling the protection of its industry, and extending this process to sensitive products for local production.