Andrés-Góngora-310512-1Just a few days ago at COAG we openly denounced the pressure from Morocco to prevent the implementation of the new system that reinforces border controls and that would prevent exporters from continuing to commit tax fraud and evade payment of tariff rates., something that we have been denouncing our Organization we have been denouncing for years.

The new system requires that the merchandise when entering the EU be accompanied by a firm invoice and not, as until now, where the exporter was allowed to deliver the documentation 3 months after shipment, which allowed them to falsify the data.

Now, and after the meeting with the Commissioner for Agriculture where I was present, puedo confirmar que no se tratan de presiones, yo lo calificaría más bien de amenazas y chantajes a los que Dacian Ciolos no debe doblegarse.

Las presiones del sector del tomate marroquí no sólo han llegado al ámbito agrario, si no que se han hecho extensivas al resto con especial incidencia en las relaciones diplomáticas. Esto ha hecho que desde la Comisión Europea estén pidiendo a Ciolos que renegocie con Marruecos, algo a lo que nos opusimos y oponemos de forma tajante y así se lo hemos hecho saber también a la Ministra de Agricultura, Isabel García Tejerina. La responsable del ramo en España debe de prestar su apoyo al Comisario y posicionarse de forma firme para que la Unión Europea no ceda a las coacciones del país vecino.

If Europe gives in to Morocco's blackmail and threats, the role of the European Union will be called into question, which will put Mediterranean producers at the mercy of horses.. The Alawite Kingdom is playing very dirty since Europe has made the determination to control its exports more so that they do not breach the entry quotas and pay the corresponding tariff rates in case of breaking the agreement..

The Agriculture Commissioner's position seems firm: is not going to open negotiations with Morocco or review the Regulations with it, but the reality is that within the Commission they already contemplate (not to say it's almost done) make some type of concession more to Morocco to relax tensions. The worst, Everything indicates that this concession could be made with tomatoes., i.e., including the cherry variety in the calculation of the global import value, which would mean that in most cases the established entry prices would not be exceeded and they would not have to pay tariff rates..

We do not understand how Europe can even consider this option, which is, definitely, a way to continue covering up blatant tax fraud by exporters working in Morocco who 'save' tariff rates.

The jumping of the Melilla fence or the pressure on agriculture are a dirty maneuver orchestrated by Morocco to shamefully put pressure on Europe to give in to its blackmail., something that at COAG we are not going to consent since bowing to Morocco will mean the total collapse of the Spanish tomato..

From COAG, We demand firmness from the Minister of Agriculture of Spain, to the Commissioner for Agriculture as well as to the rest of the European Ministers of the field. Morocco cannot continue managing Europe as it pleases, failing to comply with the laws required of the rest of the EU producers and violating the agreement and defrauding capital that achieves nothing more than favoring those who have the most and run the show in Morocco to the detriment, for example, of the working and social conditions of the field workers there who carry out their work in a manner, many times, subhuman.

Finally, From COAG we are clear about the demand that we from the Organization make to the Commissioner of Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos: Inflexibility with the agreement and threats from Morocco!

Andrés Góngora Belmonte.
National Manager of Fruits and Vegetables at Coag.
Provincial Secretary of Coag-Almería