Almeria Farmers Demand EU Action on Moroccan Tomato Imports, Citing €25 Million Loss

"Border control and surveillance are vital. It is essential that Europe harmonizes border control methods and in ports," said Adoración Blanque, the general secretary of ASAJA in Almeria. The association denounces the non-compliance of third countries, including Morocco, with EU agreements, which is causing enormous damage to Almeria producers. "Today it is the tomato that is suffering this situation, the green bean had already experienced it," it complains, adding that other productions are also threatened by this trend that seriously compromises the survival of the family production model in Almería.

"These agreements are not respected and this negligence of Europe promotes unfair competition with producers and fraud towards consumers who are sold products whose quality poses problems in terms of food safety and environmental sustainability," Blanque argues, who nevertheless welcomes "the predisposition" of European deputies to "create a common front that allows a Spanish position within the agriculture committee of the parliament and in other competent bodies such as the International Trade Commission (INTA) which will indeed address the issue on July 13 next.

Blanque also reports that the association has sent a letter to the Vice-President of the European Commission and the Commissioner for Trade to demand respect for the EU-Morocco agreement and to study the implementation of "the safeguard clause in the event of serious market distortion." "The objective is to have a real lobby with farmers and European deputies in order to put an end to a situation of obviously unfair competition and to put pressure on Europe," Blanque concluded.