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Parliamentary question - E-005959/2018Parliamentary question
E-005959/2018

South African oranges

Question for written answer E-005959-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Florent Marcellesi (Verts/ALE)

Since the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and five Southern African States, including South Africa, entered into force on 10 October 2016, oranges produced there can be imported into the European Union without tariffs being levied for an extended period.

In 10 years’ time, they will be levied for all months of the year. This situation is detrimental to European producers, who are governed by standards not imposed on South Africans and which push up the prices of European oranges.

Producers in southern Europe have already been hit by the price drop this citrus season, which has forced them to undersell or not pick very early varieties. This creates uncertainty and leads to land abandonment, loss of farm labour and serious land management problems.

1. Is the Commission aware of the extremely serious situation faced by European producers of citrus fruit?

2. Are the conditions in place for implementing the safeguards provided for in Article 34(2) of the Agreement?

3. If not, why not?

Last updated: 12 December 2018
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