THEY CONSIDER THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION COMPROMISES THE PROFITABILITY AND THE FUTURE OF TOMATO FARMING IN THE ISLANDS.

The Coordinator of organizations of farmers and ranchers, COAG Canary, is going to start a campaign against the approval of the agreement between the European Union and Morocco, which is currently pending ratification by the European Parliament, and whose final vote is scheduled for the end of February.

This agricultural organization announces that it will promote the presentation of motions in city councils and Cabildos, in order to obtain support from their plenary sessions and to urge the government of the Canary Islands, Ministry and MEPs to clearly reject an agreement that seriously harms the interests of the producers of the Archipelago. The campaign is carried out in coordination with the COAG of other autonomous communities, in what is expected to contribute to the rejection of the agreement.

COAG recalls that the progressive liberalization of commercial transactions with the Alawite country, without effective control mechanisms for volumes and entry prices, is causing the collapse of prices at origin, clearly compromising the profitability and future of Canary fruit and vegetable farms (and specifically the tomato farms), a strategic sector for employment and wealth creation in the affected regions.

It is necessary to condition the opening of European markets to compliance with minimum standards in socio-labor matters., environmental and health of production from third countries. On the other hand, The Association Agreements lack clauses that allow verifying the impact of trade liberalization for both parties, especially with regard to environmental aspects, labor rights and economic and social development of the local population.

In addition, COAG-Canary Islands considers it very important that the European Parliament rejects the ratification of an Agreement that deepens the dangerous drift towards liberalization that has such dire consequences in the community production sector., and whose consequences for Canarian agriculture are disastrous. This decision would also provide a boost to the opposition to the CAP reform proposal that is currently on the table., and that precisely delves into that deregulatory path, ignoring the management and organization mechanisms of markets that are driven by speculative interests and that do not take into account the strategic nature of production.