Fishery quota deregulation under the EU-Mexico Association Agreement
27.6.2017
Question for written answer E-004275-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Gabriel Mato (PPE) , Francisco José Millán Mon (PPE) , Carlos Iturgaiz (PPE) , Verónica Lope Fontagné (PPE)
Under the EU-Mexico Association Agreement, the Commission tabled for discussion in the Trade Policy Committee, a proposal for the deregulation of trade in tuna loins and canned tuna.
The European Union is the world’s principal canned tuna market and second-largest producer, with an output of over 350 000 tonnes.
However, since the beginning of this century, the EU’s policy of opening up its market to third countries has left the industry seriously exposed, placing at risk EU companies that have only, with great difficulty, been keeping themselves afloat, while Mexico has, over the last year, accounted for 10% of canned tuna production.
In view of this:
- 1.What is the Commission hoping to achieve with its deregulation policy?
- 2.Is it aware of the enormous damage being inflicted on the fish processing industry as a result?
- 3.Does it really expect to uphold EU interests by dismantling the EU tuna canning industry, which has become a world leader, possibly destroying a sector that is each year generating over 21 000 jobs directly and over 60 000 indirectly and continues, in the wake of the economic crisis, to provide employment year after year?