In France and Brussels, the challenges facing freight transport logistics grow more tangled by the day. Fepex, the Spanish Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, condemns the ongoing protests by French farmers against Spanish fruit and vegetable production as unacceptable and unfair. These demonstrations disrupt the free flow of trucks and Goods are sometimes damaged, even as attention to other fruit sectors is overlooked. Morocco remains a primary supplier of fruits and vegetables entering the EU through France, accounting for about half of the EU’s imports in 2022, highlighting how intertwined supply chains have become within the bloc. The stakes extend beyond national borders, drawing attention to how regional actions can ripple across the entire market. This perspective is echoed by industry leaders who stress the need for consistent rules across member states to maintain stable trade flows and avoid unnecessary disruptions. Fepex notes that France, as the largest importer of Moroccan produce, should avoid positioning itself as a source of friction against Spanish agriculture, which operates under the same community regulations. According to Eurostat data for 2022, Moroccan fruits and vegetables reached 1,540,851 tonnes, with France importing 776,839 tonnes, which is 50 percent of the total. France also ranks highly among non-European suppliers, underscoring the international dimension of a market that the EU seeks to keep open and predictable.
Guarantee of the single market
Fepex urges French authorities to actively safeguard the free movement of goods and to prevent actions that could erode the EU single market. It is important to remember that Spain itself imports considerable quantities of produce from France, including 809,239 tonnes of potatoes in 2022, illustrating the reciprocal nature of regional trade. The current tensions put Spanish producers at a disadvantage and mirror the Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese experiences of market pressures, according to Fepex. The federation aligns with the three core demands published by FNSEA, the principal protest organization: workers deserve dignity in their labor, fair wages must be paid for work, and sustainable conditions for farming practices should be established. Fepex points out that the core issue lies in inconsistent legislative progress, insufficient reflection on food sovereignty, and a lack of coordinated decisions that respect the broader economic and social context governing agriculture. The call is for a significant reform of EU farm policy, with a particular focus on phytosanitary rules, coupled with reciprocal measures in third-country suppliers to ensure fairness and proportionality in trade relationships.
In light of these concerns, Fepex emphasizes that policy reform must be timely and evidence-based, supported by transparent measures that protect both producers and consumers while maintaining the integrity of the internal market. The aim is to create a framework where food safety, environmental standards, and market access are balanced so that Spanish and French farmers can compete on a level playing field rather than against a patchwork of divergent rules. The discussion also considers how phytosanitary controls and certification schemes can be harmonized to reduce unnecessary barriers and redundant inspections, enabling smoother logistics and more predictable pricing for EU consumers.
Reaction of the Spanish Government
In response to comments attributed to French leadership about what one official described as unfair competition among EU countries, Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, asserted that there is no competitive advantage gained within the union. He underscored that EU marketing standards apply uniformly across all member states, and no country benefits from divergent regulatory strictness. Planas stated that the same rules that govern France are also in effect in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, and other members, arguing that single-market integrity depends on consistent implementation rather than selective interpretation of rules. The minister stressed the importance of quality as a hallmark of Spanish products, noting that Spain’s position in European and global markets is the result of the dedication of its farmers and the entire agri-food sector to high standards and competitiveness. This emphasis on quality aims to reassure consumers and trading partners that Spain remains a reliable source of safe, nutritious, and well-produced fruits and vegetables. Observers highlight that trade policy in practice must support producers while ensuring fair competition, a balance Planas indicates is achievable through shared standards and rigorous enforcement across the bloc. The discussion continues to focus on how best to align policy instruments with actual farm outcomes, market access, and the protection of livelihoods for growers who rely on stable, predictable demand for their crops.