The action of European Commission It is considered a "legal adjustment" that seeks to circumvent two key rulings issued by the Court of Justice of the EU on October 4, 2024. One of the rulings ruled that the Association Agreement was not legal with regard to Western Sahara as it was signed without the consent of the Sahrawi peopleThe second, on case C-399/22, established the mandatory labeling products from the Sahara with this designation.
With the approved modification, the Commission extends the tariff advantages from which it already benefits Morocco to productions fruit and vegetables of Western SaharaThis decision projects a strong growth of exports from this area to the EU, which translates into a direct harm for community producers, who already face a tough competition from the Moroccan market.
This measure, along with an unclear labeling system, is expected to cause a sharp increase in Sahrawi fruit and vegetable imports, generating unfair competition that could worsen the crisis for European Union farmers.
The situation of tomato sector en Spain It is an example of the existing pressure. Production for the fresh market has fallen by 31 % in a decade, going from 2.320.990 tonnes in 2014 to 1.649.750 tonnes in 2024. Spanish tomato exports to the EU (excluding the UK) also fell by 25 % in the same period. In contrast, the Spanish imports of tomatoes from Morocco they shot each other 269 %, rising from 18.045 tonnes in 2014 to 66.624 tonnes in 2024. This increase underlines the vulnerability of local farmers in the face of further market liberalization.
Additionally, the system of labeled proposed for Sahrawi products is matter of concernThe EU is proposing a new code or designation that would present them practically like Moroccans, which would generate a great confusion among European consumers about the true origin of what they buy.
Given this situation, the federation FEPEX has launched an urgent appeal for the Council do not approve This proposal from the European Commission. They also request that the amendment be processed through the European ParliamentThe entity argues that the proposal does not respect the two judgments of the CJEU and seriously harms to EU fruit and vegetable producers. "They will have to cope with a sharp increase in imports from the Sahara under the advantageous conditions of the Association Agreement with Morocco," the sources point out, also noting that these products are not subject to the same conditions. requirements in matter labor, phytosanitary and production than those imposed on the community.
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