Morocco, which has established its reputation on the European market through its agricultural products (tomatoes, watermelons, citrus fruits, red fruits, vegetables, etc.) has considerably increased its exports, especially those of tomatoes in the countries of the European Union, according to the reports. data from the statistical service Euroestacom (Icex-Eurostat).
This enrages the neighbor to the north of Spain who, through his partisan lobby, tries at all costs to put a stop to this ascent by maneuvering from Brussels. And for good reason, imports have increased so much, according to the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, that they have reached 33% in volume and 40% in value.
The anger of the northern neighbor is said to have its roots in the increase in tomato exports from Morocco to the EU which have recorded, during the last five years an increase of 28.84% while those of Spain have fallen by 22 , 99% during this same period. Between January and November 2020 they amounted to 373,780 tonnes. This advance in the competitiveness of the national sector internationally is due to the Maroc Vert agricultural strategy. So much so that our country has become the third supplier of tomatoes to the EU in terms of volume, after Spain (2nd) and the Netherlands (1st).
That’s not all, Moroccan watermelons have sold at a higher price in the European market than those from Spain. Imports of watermelons from European Union member states increased in 2020 by 4.58%. Morocco stood out with an increase in its exports (214.17 million kilos) and also by the high price of its watermelons during the 2019/2020 agricultural and export season. Indeed, the prices of watermelons from Morocco were, on average, 0.65 euros per kilo while those of Spanish watermelons were around 0.57 euros per kilo. As a result, watermelons from the country were sold 14.03% more expensive than those from Spain, which is the EU’s largest supplier. A victim of its own success, Morocco has therefore been bullied by the Spanish agricultural lobbies.
In this context, after the right and the extreme right, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) of Pedro Sanchez has also got involved. Thus, through the voice of MEP Clara Aguilera, socialist spokesperson for the European Commission for Agriculture, a request was made to the European Commission to revise the entry regime for agricultural products in the kingdom. on the European market of 27, when twice it has been rejected. Aguilera urges the EU executive to change the system for calculating the overall value of imports at a flat rate, so that the entry price system is more efficient, for Spain obviously.
She stresses that the EU’s agreement with Morocco has put Spain at a disadvantage and caused losses in the profitability of agricultural products in several regions (Grenada, Almeria and Murcia, etc.). But it may well rise up against Moroccan products, the European Commission does not currently foresee any change in the current system. Also, as for her colleague the MEP from VOX, Mazaly Aguilar and other colleagues previously including (Podemos), the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, should send her back to her dear studies.
