Spanish Parliament Calls for Suspension of Morocco Trade Agreement
On April 13, the Joint Committee of the Congress and Senate for the European Union (EU) in Spain has taken a significant step by approving a non-binding proposal put forth by the Popular Group. This proposal demands the suspension of the trade agreement with Morocco if there is a 5% alteration in agricultural volumes and prices. The motion was passed with 18 votes in favor from the Popular Party (PP), two abstentions, and 15 votes against, notably from the Socialist Group.
Milagros Marcos, the deputy advocating for the initiative, emphasized the need for new safeguards in the trade agreement with Morocco. She firmly rejected any provision that contradicts the ruling of the Court of Justice of the EU, which previously annulled a similar agreement due to its adverse effects on the Saharan populations. The parliamentary committee has called for more robust mechanisms to protect the market, suggesting that the current safeguards are insufficient. They proposed that the agreement be halted if market distortions reach 5% in either the volume or price of agricultural products tied to concessions made to Morocco.
Marcos further clarified to Efeagro that the 5% threshold aligns with the safeguards established in the EU-Mercosur agreement. During the discussions, she pointed out that the current agreement fails to comply with the rulings of EU judges, as it still allows products from Saharan territories to enter the EU labeled as Moroccan. The parliamentarians are advocating for reciprocal agricultural trade and are calling for a review of European regulations, particularly those related to environmental standards, which they argue hinder the competitiveness of Spanish and European farmers without offering any environmental benefits.
While Vox proposed two amendments aimed at completely suspending the agreement, these were not accepted. Conversely, Senator Pere Joan Pons, representing the Socialist Group, argued for the maintenance of trade agreements, noting that the existing pact with Morocco already includes mechanisms to safeguard against market alterations.
As reported by es.investing.com.
