Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the introduction of emergency autonomous trade measures for the Republic of Tunisia

The current framework for trade relations between the European Union and the Republic of Tunisia is provided by the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement, signed in 1995. The Agreement entered into force in 1998 and laid the foundation for the establishment of a Free Trade Area, including a progressive liberalization on agriculture. Tunisia and the EU are on the verge of engaging in negotiations for establishing a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) that will notably provide for further liberalisation of trade in agriculture.

The terrorist attack of 26 June 2015 in Sousse prompted a reaction from the EU on the need to further assist Tunisia in its political and economic transition, in a concrete and targeted manner, through actions that can be effective in the short-term. On 20 July 2015 the Foreign Affairs Council discussed the situation in Tunisia and concrete measures which the EU could take to support it. The Council adopted the Conclusions on Tunisia outlining actions to be taken to support Tunisian political transition and economy.

Against this background the European Commission proposes to offer a temporary, unilateral duty free tariff rate quota of 35,000 tons annually for Tunisia's exports of olive oil to the Union, under the form of autonomous trade measure. Such quota will be made available for a period of two years, from 1 January 2016 until 31 December 2017. This additional volume will be opened once the existing duty free tariff rate quota of 56,700 tonnes, enshrined in the Agreement, is exhausted.

Olive oil is Tunisia’s main agricultural export to the EU, and the olive oil industry is an important part of the country’s economy, providing direct and indirect employment to more than one million people and representing one-fifth of the country’s total agricultural employment.

It is to be noted that the concession should not prejudge the outcome of the agricultural negotiations in the framework of the DCFTA, due to start in October 2015.

EUR-Lex: COM(2015)460: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2015:460:FIN

ESO: Background information: European Union offers Tunisia increase of olive oil exports http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-union-offers-tunisia-increase-of-olive-oil-exports/

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