Brussels, 28/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is currently negotiating renewal of the association agreement with Morocco. According to COPA (Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the EU) and COGECA (General Committee of Agricultural Cooperatives in the EU), Morocco is asking, in particular, for the entry price system for fresh fruit and vegetables to be removed and for an increase in the import quotas of fruit and vegetables entering Europe.
Pekka Pesonen, COPA-COGECA General Secretary, takes the view that the entry price system applicable to fresh fruit and vegetable imports coming into the EU cannot be called into question. “Before contemplating any increase in quotas for sensitive products from Morocco such as tomatoes, peppers, melons and oranges, the European Commission must study the socio-economic impact that this would have on traditional production areas of the EU”, he commented. He also underlined the importance of retaining the current modalities relating to tomato import quotas which regulate their importation into the EU on a monthly basis. (L.C./transl.jl)