Spanish People’s Party calls on European Commission to review trade agreement with Morocco

Madrid (Spain), August 9, 2025 (SPS) – The Spanish People’s Party (PP), through its Member of the European Parliament and spokesperson for agricultural affairs, Carmen Crespo, has once again called on the European Commission to review the trade agreement between the European Union and Morocco, explicitly excluding occupied Western Sahara, in compliance with the rulings of the European Court of Justice.

In press statements, Carmen Crespo revealed that the party will present a series of initiatives in the European Parliament demanding that the Commission—which is set to renew this bilateral agreement in October—"explicitly exclude any product originating from Western Sahara under the agreement, in addition to implementing effective reciprocity mechanisms, binding quotas, and establishing strict controls."

The MEP condemned Morocco’s increasing trade pressure and potential tax evasion, estimated at around 70 million euros, stating that "instead of updating entry prices, tariff quotas and customs duties on these products have been reduced, creating unfair double competition for European producers."

In this regard, she demanded that, if tax evasion is proven, "Morocco should be required to pay financial compensation proportional to the damage caused." She also called for "activating safeguard mechanisms to protect the European agricultural sector."

Late last month, Spanish organizations had called for compliance with the European Court of Justice’s rulings regarding products from occupied Western Sahara, following revelations of deceptive labeling of "cherry tomatoes" originating from the occupied territory. These tomatoes were being sold in major Spanish retail chains as Moroccan products.

Both the Union of Consumers and Users and the Coordinator of Farmers and Livestock Organizations in Spain filed a joint complaint with the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs under Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights and Consumer Affairs, denouncing the illegal labeling of "cherry tomatoes" from occupied Western Sahara.