Maria isabel GARCIA CATALAN

Policy topics Maria isabel GARCIA CATALAN is active on

What Maria isabel GARCIA CATALAN has said (5)

• “We have been listening that there was a type of negotiations in, in a very, uh, short time and there was not credible that they were carried out in such a short period. Um, we already announced when we were in December that we were carrying out a thorough technical analysis. We were considering all possibilities. You were referring to a plan B, we were considering all possibilities. We were considering a new agreement, different agreement, maybe autonomous trade measures messages. We were considering all the possibilities. But I repeat, there was a technical analysis that we were carrying out following different options, but we were tied by the discussions at political level. It was only in July that we understood there were political willingness to proceed with the negotiation. The technical work was already done. Once there was the political willingness we could proceed. The workhorse was already there. There has been some references to the fisheries agreements, and about also why there is no further mention of further contact. Was the same. So basically, now that there has a political willingness in relation with this agreement that is very sensitive for Morocco, there is expectations to proceed now with the other agreement on fisheries. So one element is the blocking others. I would refer it now to the elements in relation to the region. And region of origin.”
  Trade relations with Morocco · EU policy on Western Sahara
• “The way to define Western Sahara originating products will be established through the rules of origin in the EU Morocco Association Agreement. But, and this is what is new now in this agreement, there is a commitment by the parties to identify Western Sahara products by referring to the region of production. And this will be done in the proofs of origin foraging certificate of foraging invoice declaration and in the labeling. Precisely when I was referring to this EU Council decision on the EU position in the EU Morocco Association Council, the specificities of how the certificates of origin and invoices declaration will be filled in are detailed there. So by a reference to two regions Dakhla and Lion. There is also in the agreement the possibility to authorise Moroccan authorities to issue conformity certificates for Western Sahara products. Now there is also in the agreement evaluation exercise, for which there is a commitment of the parties to exchange information. The modalities of this exchange of information will be developed through a decision of the EU Morocco Authorization committee. And there is a second part and is referring to the second part to what is the consent of the Saharawi people and the benefits for the second part, I give the floor to my colleague.”
  Trade relations with Morocco · EU policy on Western Sahara
• “The importance of this agreement is that contrary to the situation we have under the agreement of 2018, we will now be able to identify the products. Consignment by consignment, Western Sahara products, consignment by consignment. This means that we will be able to have statistics about which is the import of Morocco, Western Sahara products separate from Morocco products. This is important not only from the point of view of the statistics. This is also offering the possibility to identify these products operators for customs and for consumers. There were some references to the Impact of this agreement providing trade preferences to Western Sahara products. Just I'm going to give some numbers. Western Sahara products. According to the the report that were carried out, uh, during these past years represent €600 million when imported into the union, 202,100 tons of products, most of them 500 million. From these 600 million in total, 500 million is fish. The rest is tomatoes and melons, basically. And of this focusing on on fruit and vegetables, 85% of the production of Western Sahara has as destination the European Union. In. So putting things in context, we are from the point of view of the impact on trade. The impact of this agreement is limited. Um, I now would give the floor to my colleague in relation to the benefits and the consent.”
  Trade relations with Morocco · EU policy on Western Sahara
• “Thank you very much for these questions. So we will try to group the replies basically through three topics. We understand there is concerns in relation to the negotiations, the timing of negotiations. The procedure of negotiations, others questions related to the regions. How the labeling and how the mention of the regions will work. And there were also some elements related to trade sensitivities, uh, trade flows. And of course, the maybe most relevant point on the consent and benefits. I will start with the question on the timing of negotiations. Um, the framework for negotiating this agreement was extremely difficult. Not only we have a very short deadline, but also was relating to a very sensitive political issue. That had connections with many other political elements. Some of the honourable members have made reference to the importance of Morocco as a key partner trade partner not only trade partner for many other elements, and in this context, the contacts that were established between the Commission and Morocco. First of all, as we already announced to explain, the effects of the rulings were at high level, politically high level. And we are all aware that this agreement has two legs, two elements, a political one, but also technical one. It was difficult to have discussions on the technical elements given the Politicization at high level of the discussions. Um. Any case.”
  Trade relations with Morocco · EU policy on Western Sahara
• “Focus on the documents, legal documents that need to be connected in relation to this agreement. First of all, we have the council decision on the signature and provisional application of the agreement. We have also the council decision on the conclusion of the agreement, but we have also a council decision on the EU position of the EU Morocco Association Council that is needed to implement part of the agreement, customs elements and we will have in the future also a modification and amendment of the delegated act relating to labelling of fruit and vegetables. Now I will send my comments in relation to the content of the agreement. There are two main elements that need to be considered in line with the Court of Justice. Ruling of 4th of October 2024. First, what we can say is some trade customs labelling elements, um, according to which Western Sahara originating products need to be identified in labelling in customs documents and there is a need to consider The Morocco and Western Sahara as two separate territories. What there is in the agreement in relation to this, first, preferences are granted to all Western Sahara originating products, being industrial or being agricultural products. The preference to be granted are those that are granted to Morocco under the EU Association Morocco Association Agreement.”
  Free trade agreements (FTAs) · Trade relations with Morocco · EU policy on Western Sahara