Preferential tariffs for importing South African oranges into the EU
13.9.2016
Question for written answer E-006867-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Salvatore Domenico Pogliese (PPE)
The amendments to the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) include an extension of the period of access for South African oranges to the European market, at preferential tariffs. It is a proposal that is set to trigger a considerable increase in the number of South African oranges on the common market, coinciding with the peak production period in Europe. In addition, as the main associations of Italian farmers have repeatedly pointed out, there are fears over plant health owing to the fact that the African signatories to the agreement are home to a plant disease known as Citrus Black Spot (CBS), which could pose a threat to the European citrus industry.
In light of the above:
- 1.Given the Council’s decision, can the Commission say what countervailing measures it intends to take to protect the European citrus industry?
- 2.In order to prevent the recurrence of decisions that are highly disadvantageous for certain agricultural products, such as those of southern Europe, does it intend to review its strategy of prior assessment of the effects and costs of trade agreements concluded with third countries?
- 3.What documents can it provide to guarantee the absence of CBS in oranges originating from the African signatories?