Steven Maxwell
European Parliament begins debate on trade deal before final vote on ratification
The fate of the controversial EU-Morocco agreement of association looks likely to finally be decided, with the European Parliament set to vote on the trade deal on 16 February after months of arguments and counter-arguments.
After considerable delays, MEPs will begin debating the merits of the accord on 14 February, before deciding whether to vote in favour of its ratification later in the week.
French MEP José Bové, the spokesman for a pan-European grouping that has formed against the agreement, is expected to again recommend that the Parliament rejects it, arguing that further trade liberalisation would result in “unfair competition” for European fruit and vegetable producers.
Spanish fresh produce groups have been among the loudest campaigners against the trade deal, and representatives of major associations Fepex and COAG are expected to be present at the Parliament over the coming days.
The campaign against the agreement has already received the support of MEPs from Spain’s current governing Popular Party, as well as those from the opposition Socialist Party.
In the run-up to the deciding vote, COAG has also set-up a protest camp outside the offices of the European Union in Madrid.
