Trade Committee MEPs back emergency plan to import 70000 tonnes of Tunisian olive oil duty free

1/26/2016 2:42:18 AM

(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))

BRUSSELS 26th January 2016 (WAM) -- A proposed emergency measure to import 70000 tonnes of olive oil from Tunisia duty free to help boost the struggling Tunisian economy which has been hit not least by the terrorist attacks of 2015 was backed by the European Parliament Trade Committee on Monday. To meet the concerns of the EU olive oil producers they nonetheless inserted an amendment that allows the measure to be reviewed and corrected mid-way should it harm the EU economy.

MEPs backed the European Commission's proposed exceptional measure by 31 votes to 7 with 1 abstention according to EU news service Europa.

"At a time when Tunisia is facing very serious problems our vote gives the right signal that the EU stands alongside Tunisians and that we intend to exercise solidarity in a tangible way" said rapporteur Marielle de Sarnez after the vote.

"I know that for colleagues from some countries the question of olive oil is a sensitive one. I want to reassure them that the amendment we adopted provides that if after a year we realise that there is indeed a problem the Commission may then take steps to rectify the imbalance" she added.

If the full Parliament follows the trade MEPs' recommendation a two-year temporary zero-duty tariff quota of 35000 tonnes per year (70000 tonnes in total) for EU olive oil imports from Tunisia will be available from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017. It will however apply without increasing the overall volume of imports from Tunisia (the EU will discount duties from the olive oil Tunisia is already exporting to the EU).

Trade MEPs added an additional provision on mid-term assessment asking the Commission to assess the impact on the EU olive oil market at mid-term after the measure's entry into force and take corrective measures should the balance of the EU market be disturbed.

The Tunisian olive oil sector indirectly employs more than a million people accounting for one-fifth of jobs in the country's agricultural industry. Olive oil is Tunisia's main agricultural export.

WAM/tfaham/Moran

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.