Moroccan Farmers Condemn Attacks on Produce Trucks by European Protesters

The Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER) reacts to the attacks on Moroccan trucks and the media stigmatization of Moroccan farmers by European farmers - striking farmers, mainly in France and Spain - who question the quality of Moroccan agricultural shipments and denounce unfair competition. In a statement, it expresses concern about this situation. "We express our concern following the recurrent and unfounded attacks on Moroccan products as well as the media stigmatization of which Moroccan farmers are the collateral victims," the organization states, assuring that the Moroccan agricultural products exported to the European Union are quality products.

"The Moroccan agricultural products exported to the European Union are quality products that strictly comply, without exception, with the regulatory requirements of the destination markets. These include marketing standards, sanitary standards and phytosanitary standards," the same source assures.

The Confederation also expressed its intention to work with its European partners to maintain trade relations for the benefit of both parties, within the framework of "mutual respect for the flow of agricultural goods," but it "cannot tolerate any contrary action." It will recall that trade between Morocco and the EU takes place within the framework of the partnership agreement between the EU and its Member States on the one hand, and Morocco on the other. Without failing to point out that agricultural trade between the Kingdom and the EU is subject to the provisions of the Agricultural Agreement, composed of Protocols 1 and 2 of the EU-Morocco Association Agreement. Signed in December 2010 and implemented in October 2012, this agreement grants Moroccan agricultural exports a certain preferential treatment, similar to EU exports to Morocco. "During the 2021/2022 period, Moroccan exports of agricultural products increased by 15% to the EU, and by 2% to Spain. By way of comparison, over the same period, agricultural exports from the EU to Morocco increased by 75%, while those from Spain increased by 20%," the Confederation further specifies.