The Coordinating Body of Farmers and Livestock Breeders Organizations in Spain (COAG) has announced plans to pursue legal action against the trade agreement between the European Commission and Morocco. The organization argues that the agreement improperly includes products from Western Sahara. According to a statement from COAG, the agreement «contradicts the rulings of the European Court of Justice, which has established that Western Sahara is a non-independent territory, legally separate from Morocco». The organization claims that including products from this region without consulting its legitimate representatives is «a breach of international law». Andrés Góngora, COAG's secretary-general in Almería and head of the fruits and vegetables sector, delivered a scathing critique of the European Commission. He accused it of «ignoring the European Court's decisions and bypassing the European Parliament», and argued that the agreement «encourages unfair competition». Góngora warned that altering an international agreement in this manner «sets a dangerous precedent». He pointed out that the changes were made «without consulting the agricultural sector, assessing its economic impact, or securing the European Parliament's approval», stressing that this decision «directly affects thousands of European farmers». COAG has sounded the alarm over potential severe economic consequences, asserting that the agreement «jeopardizes the profitability of countless fruit and vegetable farms and primarily benefits large importing companies». The organization also highlighted «increasing issues related to product labeling».
