B3-0300/94

Resolution on the crisis in the tomato sector

The European Parliament,

A.whereas the Community tomato market suffered a decline during autumn and winter 1993-1994, partly because of the increase in imports from third countries,

B.whereas the fall in prices is jeopardizing the economic and social stability of certain parts of Community territory, such as the Canary Islands and part of Andalusia, where a large part of the farming population is dependent solely on tomato production,

C.whereas, in the light of the entry into force in 1995 of the new GATT agreement concluded on 15 December 1993, Community regulations on fruit and vegetables need to be adjusted in order to provide adequate protection for Community farmers under the new international system, particularly as regards import timetables,

D.concerned that the new free trade agreements with the Maghreb countries may result in Community producers being sacrificed as a result of concessions being granted for the import of fruit and vegetables from these regions,

E.whereas the critical current situation of the tomato market in any case requires urgent measures to be taken as far as possible without delay,

1.Calls on the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to introduce a price system and import timetable to prevent the continuing decline of the Community tomato market; the system should enter into force by the next marketing year, in accordance with the new GATT agreement;

2.Calls on the Commission to submit without delay proposals to adapt regulations governing fruit and vegetables so as to protect Community tomato production;

3.Considers that the granting of further concessions for tomato imports from third countries should be subject to preliminary mechanisms designed at least to ensure that Community production remains competitive;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.