7 Amendments of Jacques COLOMBIER related to 2018/0256M(NLE)
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that most of the concerns expressed in that opinion are, from the point of view of the European horticulture industry, still relevant today, in what is a difficult and volatile period for the industry, in particular as a result of the ongoing Russian embargo; sanctions unilaterally imposed on Russia, which have only had the effect of penalising the European agricultural market and putting many sectors in difficulty;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that there are still major competitiveness issues for European producers owing to the wide divergences compared in particular with Moroccan producers in terms of labour costs, working conditions and environmental standards; calls for the principles of reciprocity and conformity to be applied in this agreement, as in all trade agreements with third countries, with regard to agricultural products;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Draws attention to the fact that some of the fruit and vegetables exported preferentially to the EU under the terms of the agreement in question (including tomatoes and melons) come from the territoryMoroccan region of Western Sahara, and points out that very ambitious plans have been drawn up with a view to further developing such production and exports;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets the legal uncertainty that has arisen since the Court of Justice judgment of 21 December 2016; is concerned that the Commission has been unable to provide reliable data on preferential imports of products from the Moroccan region of Western Sahara that may have been carried out since that date, in spite of the judgment in question; wonders what the cost has been to the EU budget of any preferences granted during the period concerned without a valid legal basis; in the absence of sufficient comparative information, is doubtful whether the Commission is able to assess the impact of the proposed new agreement properly;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Nevertheless welcomes the clarification that the new agreement provides, and hopes that it will be able henceforth to provide a clear, stable framework for the economic operators concerned, on both sides of the Mediterranean; recalls that no farmer should have to endure the risky consequences of European geopolitical decisions;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is doubtful whether the distinction drawn in the new agreement between products from the Sahara and those from Morocco is relevant from a customs and trade perspective, setting the obvious political aspects asidgiven that this agreement in no way constitutes recognition of Western Sahara as a sovereign State; notes, in particular, that in the new agreement there is no allocation of the tariff rate quotas laid down in the initial agreement, and that, in terms of access to the preferences granted by the EU, ithe origin of the products will not therefore make any difference whatsoever whether or not products are of Sahrawi origin;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points out that Article 7 of Protocol 1 to the 2012 Agreement contains a safeguard clause making it possible for appropriate steps to be taken where imports of large quantities of agricultural products classed as sensitive under the agreement cause serious market distortion and/or serious harm to the industry concerned; hopes that preferential imports into the EU of sensitive agricultural products from Morocco and Western Sahara will continue to be subject to appropriate monitoring by the Commission, and that the Commission will still be ready to activate the aforementioned clause where an established need arises;: