To help strengthen Tunisia’s economy, hit not least by 2015 terrorist attacks, MEPs backed emergency plans to allow an additional 70,000 tons of its virgin olive oil to be imported duty free in the EU, in 2016/17.
However, MEPs also inserted requirements for the EU Commission to do a mid-term assessment of the effects of the measures, update them if it turns out that they harm EU olive oil producers, and ensure that the imports are tracked from start to finish.
The emergency quota was approved by 475 votes to 126, with 35 abstentions.
MEPs backed the proposed two-year temporary zero-duty tariff quota of 35,000 tons per year (70,000 tons in total) for EU olive oil imports from Tunisia, available for 2016 and 2017.
This will not increase the overall volume of imports from Tunisia (the EU will discount duties on the olive oil that Tunisia is already exporting to the EU).
To address the concerns of EU olive oil producers, MEPs inserted additional safeguards, such as a mid-term assessment and updating the measures if it turns out that they harm EU olive oil producers, a “tracking clause” obligation to ensure that all olive oil under the quota is obtained entirely in, and transported directly from, Tunisia.
They also rejected the possibility of “contemplating” the extension of the emergency measure beyond the initial two years.
In a separate resolution, approved by 479 votes to 123, with 31 abstentions, MEPs welcome the free trade talks with Tunisia launched in October last year, and draw attention to economic difficulties faced by Tunisia, after terrorist attacks which led to the collapse of tourism in 2015. They advocate a “progressive and asymmetrical” agreement to “contribute to the stability of Tunisia, to the consolidation of its democracy and to the reinvigoration of its economy”.
Regarding the emergency quotas, the text was sent back to the EP Trade committee to start trilogue negotiations with the Council on the final text.
