The Andalusian Government Council has taken note of the position agreed upon between the Junta de Andalucía and the main Andalusian agricultural organizations, such as Asaja, UPA, COAG and Agro-Food Cooperatives. This positioning focuses on the dangers that the agreement represents EU-Mercosur for the Andalusian agricultural sector. This agreement provides for the trade liberalization between the two economic blocks, which could lead to unfair competition because the products of the Mercosur They are not subject to the same quality and sustainability standards that govern the UE.
The massive entry of Latin American products without duty threatens to negatively impact local prices and poses risks to food safety due to legislative differences in the use of banned pesticides in EuropeIn addition, there are fears of a significant loss of food sovereignty, affecting rural Andalusia where agriculture is a crucial economic pillar.
Regional authorities and major agricultural organisations warn of the risks of unfair competition and call for measures to ensure fair competition
Given this situation, both the Ministry of Agriculture As agricultural organisations demand that the EU guarantee an adequate level of food autonomy to ensure self-sufficiency in the face of future crises such as those experienced during the Covid-19 or recent international conflicts. They also insist on maintaining the rural social and economic fabric to avoid depopulation.
The Board is calling for additional guarantees regarding food safety for imports and demands equal conditions similar to those required within European production. Greater transparency is required on the elements of the agri-food agreement and the introduction of mirror clauses to ensure competitive equality.
Finally, they emphasize that any trade liberalization It must be carried out under fair conditions to avoid unfair competition, especially considering that Andalusia is an export power with annual sales of more than 14.000 billion euros.
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