Rabat – The Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER) has expressed deep concern following the recent vandalism of Moroccan agricultural exports in some European countries.
Farmers in several European countries, including Spain and France, have been blocking roads and raiding trucks exporting Moroccan vegetables to protest what they perceive as unfair competition from non-EU countries.
Widely spread videos show these farmers setting foreign trucks on fire and destroying the produce they were carrying. Although no one has been reported to have been injured in these raids, they have resulted in monetary loss and damages.
COMADER issued a statement on Thursday saying; “We express our serious concern following the repeated baseless attacks on Moroccan products, as well as the media misinformation affecting Moroccan farmers, who are direct victims of these attacks.”
The Confederation emphasized its intention to work with its European partners to maintain trade relations for the benefit of both parties, within the framework of “mutual respect for the flow of agricultural products.”
In addition, it stressed that it “cannot tolerate any unacceptable behavior.”
The confederation noted that trade between Morocco and the EU operates under the Partnership Agreement between the EU and its member states on one side, and Morocco on the other.
COMADER further highlighted that agricultural exchanges between Morocco and the EU are subject to the provisions of the Agricultural Agreement, consisting of Protocols 1 and 2 of the EU-Morocco Association Agreement.
The agreement, signed in December 2010 and implemented in October 2012, grants Moroccan agricultural exports certain preferential treatment, similar to EU exports to Morocco.
The statement noted that between 2021 and 2022, Moroccan exports of agricultural products to the EU increased by 15%, while exports to Spain saw a 2% rise. Meanwhile, EU agricultural exports to Morocco surged by 75%, with Spanish exports increasing by 20%.
COMADER said that Moroccan agricultural exports to the EU are distinguished by high quality, strict adherence to legal standards that are required in importing markets, and
The Moroccan exports are just one of the various causes for European farmers to protest as of late.
In addition to the perceived threats to their livelihoods from free trade deals, European farmers are also protesting against taxes on fuel, EU environmental initiatives, and excessive regulations.