Abuse by Turkey of trade preferences
22.1.2015
Question for written answer E-000892-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Angel Dzhambazki (ECR)
Following the imposition by the EU of sanctions against the export of goods to the Russian Federation various problems urgently needed to be resolved in the internal market. The EU Member States and their agricultural producers have been seeking to restructure their market policy, and these are hard times for the sector. It has to be pointed out that, while EU producers are facing this problematic situation, Turkey continues to benefit from trade preferences accorded under the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Economic Community and Turkey and from Decision No 1/98 of the EC-Turkey Association Council. Turkey is engaging in dumping at the expense of our produce. According to data from Member States and from the Advisory Committee on the common agricultural policy, Turkey is not fulfilling its commitments and has closed its market to agricultural imports from Member States. Given the legal principle of reciprocity of rights and obligations, and the general rule that one has to take the rough with the smooth, does the Commission consider:
- 1.that Turkey is failing to fulfil its import commitments under the Association Agreement; and
- 2.that Turkey’s preferential treatment in respect of agricultural imports ought to be withdrawn?