EU: Rules to protect European banana against possible rise in Ecuadorian imports
According to Marielle de Sarnez (ALDE, France), responsible for the parliamentary processing of the text, Ecuador’s incorporation into the trade agreement could destabilize a sector that employs 37,000 people and plays a key role in several ultra-peripheral regions of the EU.
The new mechanism for the protection of Community production of bananas obliges the Commission to act in the event of a sharp increase in imports of bananas
Ecuador, one of the largest banana producers in the world, joined the trade agreement between the EU, Colombia and Peru at the beginning of the year (its incorporation was endorsed by the Chamber in December). The country will benefit from preferential access to the Community market, but the interests of European producers will be protected by a temporary stabilization mechanism.
The system, on which the Parliament and the ministers reached an agreement in December, allows to suspend the preferences in case of surpassing an annual threshold of imports. Parliament’s negotiators included an early warning, which will be activated when imports reach 80% of the threshold. If this happens, the Commission will have to notify Parliament and the Council.
A similar stabilization mechanism for imports from Colombia and Peru came into force in 2013, but according to MEPs the flow of information between the Commission and Parliament is not satisfactory
MEPs amended two regulations, which governs the trade agreement between the EU, Colombia and Peru and an association agreement with Central America.The new rules, which will come into force after formal approval by the Council, have been approved with 544 votes in favor, 78 against and 21 abstentions.
Banana imports originate mostly from Latin America, although close to 11% of world demand is covered by European countries such as Spain (Canary Islands), France (Guadeloupe and Martinique), Portugal (Madeira and Azores Islands), Cyprus and Greece. In these territories, the banana industry plays a key economic role and is a model of sustainability.
Source: European Parliament
