On February 20th, a significant gathering of Spanish farmers took place in Algeciras, Cádiz, showcasing the agricultural community's distress and their opposition to the influx of Moroccan produce not aligning with EU health norms. Approximately 70 trucks from Jaén and Seville, loaded with farmers, reached the La Menasha zone, heeding 6F farming platform's call. Their plan to progress to Algeciras port was, however, obstructed by the National Police.
Lola Guzmán, the platform's voice, expressed their intent, stating, "We wanted to express our gratitude to our colleagues here in person. They told us they did a wonderful job, and this is what they conveyed to us." The sentiment among the protestors is one of escalating concern, with a spokesperson pointing out, "Every day, the situation gets worse. Now, the head of government says Morocco has a free market. But how much does this cost farmers, ranchers, and fishermen?"
The crux of the protest lies in the importation of Moroccan goods that bypass EU phytosanitary standards, posing a significant risk to the Spanish agricultural sector. The farmers' stance is clear: "We don't want them to enter even with the same phytosanitary measures because they [Morocco] are not part of the European Union." This event underscores the friction between Spanish cultivators and the Moroccan agro-industry over equitable trade practices and compliance with EU regulations.
Source: en.yabiladi.com