Spanish farmers continue to denounce the facilities granted by the European Union (EU) to Morocco to import tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables into the community market.
The EU is not taking appropriate measures to limit the massive importation of tomatoes from Morocco and also Turkey, denouncing Spanish farmers, stressing that this flexibility of the EU hurts the profits of Spanish producers who must comply with European regulations. They also draw attention to the fact that these products coming from third countries do not undergo any health checks, which raises doubts about their quality, relays HuffPost.
For Spanish farmers, this invasion of Moroccan tomatoes is an unfair competition that the EU maintains with its agreements with Morocco or Turkey. Spanish farmers also denounce the passivity of the EU which, according to them, does nothing to protect the interests of Spanish and Community farmers.
Meanwhile, Morocco is increasing its production of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, thanks to subsidies ranging from 3,600 to 6,300 euros per cultivated hectare. The kingdom also subsidizes fertilizers to the tune of 200 million euros and ensures the availability of at least 600,000 tonnes of phosphate fertilizers to its producers.
“While we are committed to deregulating the entry of products from third countries, our competitors are strengthening support for agri-food exports, with measures that would fall into illegality, deepening commercial dumping against tomato production », criticize Spanish farmers who predict a drop of 21.5% in the cultivated area and 22% in the production of fresh tomatoes in Spain until 2035.
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