Press Release: Trade MEPs back emergency plan to import 70,000 tonnes of Tunisian olive oil duty free

The European Parliament's trade committee approved on 25 January 2016 a proposed emergency measure to import 70,000 tonnes of olive oil from Tunisia duty free, to help boost the struggling Tunisian economy, hit not least by terrorist attacks of 2015.

The committee inserted an amendment that allows the measure to be reviewed and corrected mid-way, should it harm the European Union's economy. The decision followed the meed to address the concerns of EU olive oil producers.

The proposal and related changes were approved by the plenary session of the European Parliament on 25 February 2016. Following the endorsement by the Council of the European Union of those changes, a new vote was held at the parliament on 10 March 2016.

ESO: Background information: Italians press Commission to drop Tunisian duty-free olive oil import plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/italians-press-commission-to-drop-tunisian-duty-free-olive-oil-import-plan/

EurActiv, 10.02.16: ComAgri wants Commission olive oil plan changes http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/comagri-wants-commission-olive-oil-plan-changes-321753

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 25.02.16: MEPs back more duty-free olive oil imports to help Tunisia but want safeguards http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160223IPR15498/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 10.03.16: MEPs back duty-free imports of Tunisian olive oil with EU producer safeguards http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160309IPR18425/

EurActiv, 16.03.16: EU approves duty-free Tunisian olive oil imports http://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-approves-duty-free-tunisian-olive-oil-imports/

Politico, 30.11.16: Tunisia’s (olive) oil rush http://www.politico.eu/article/tunisias-olive-oil-rush/

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