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The Coordinating Committee of Farmers and Livestock Breeders’ Organizations in Spain has expressed its «strong rejection» of the agreement between the European Union and Morocco, due to the inclusion of products from Western Sahara, according to a statement issued by the agricultural body.
Andrés Gongora, head of the fruit and vegetable sector within the committee, voiced these concerns during the plenary session of the European Joint Committee on Fruits and Vegetables, held in Madrid with the participation of representatives from public administrations, farmers, and cooperatives from France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.
In his remarks, Gongora denounced the «lack of transparency» surrounding the deal, warning of its «illegitimacy» and potential «devastating impact» on the European agricultural sector, while also describing it as a «violation of the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination».
He proposed drafting a joint declaration to formally reject the agreement, calling it a «legal ruse» by the European Commission. «We reserve the right to take legal action against the Commission, as it ignored the court ruling that deemed the inclusion of Saharan products within the benefits of this agreement illegal», Gongora said.
He further stressed the danger of «creating a highly dangerous precedent by amending an international agreement that affects thousands of European farmers without consulting the sector, without an impact assessment, and without the approval of the European Parliament».
Beyond its political and legal implications, the committee also warned of the economic fallout of the deal, considering it a «threat to the profitability of thousands of European farms, serving only the interests of major importing companies, alongside multiple issues related to product labeling».
It is worth noting that Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita announced yesterday that «the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union have successfully concluded negotiations related to amending the agricultural agreement binding the two parties», adding that «the agreement confirms the application of preferential tariffs granted by the European Union under the partnership agreement with Morocco, in the southern regions».
