Spanish fresh produce federation Fepex has claimed resistance is growing among MEPs in the European Parliament against the European Commission’s agreement of association with Morocco, after holding a series of meetings in Brussels.
The Madrid-based organisation, which met which a number MEPs last week, believes there is an increasing willingness among European Parliament politicians to reject the trade deal due to what they claim are its “negative consequences” for southern European agriculture.
Fepex met with former activist turned MEP José Bové, who is heading efforts to block the agreement of association, alongside right-wing Italian MEP Lorenzo Fontana, and the chair of the parliament’s agriculture committee, Paolo du Castro.
Although the European Commission and Morocco finalised the new trade deal in December last year, the agreement still needs to approval of the Parliament to enter into force.
Fepex claims the accord will have “direct negative consequences” for Spanish and southern European fruit and vegetable producers, arguing that its greater trade concessions would finish production of some products in Spain and lead to higher unemployment.
