SEVILLA, a 17 de enero de 2025. The representative associations of the table olive industry in Europe — ASEMESA (Spain), ASSOM (Italy) and PEMETE (Greece) — express their deep concern and firm opposition to the treatment of the sector under the EU–Mercosur trade agreement, as they consider it to pose a direct threat to the competitiveness, employment and economic sustainability of a strategic sector for many rural regions across Europe.

It is particularly serious that, at a time when the European table olive sector continues to face significant barriers and tariffs in third-country markets, the European Union has accepted an agreement that introduces a clearly unbalanced competitive framework to the detriment of European producers and processors.

The EU–Mercosur agreement provides, on the one hand, for the progressive elimination of tariffs on table olives originating in Mercosur countries over a seven-year period, starting from a current tariff level of 12.8%. This preferential access will allow the gradual entry of table olives into the EU market under conditions that are more favourable than those faced by European production. On the other hand, the agreement effectively keeps Mercosur markets closed to European table olives, which will continue to face tariffs of around 12.6%, preventing fair and reciprocal competition.

This asymmetry is particularly concerning in strategic markets such as Brazil, one of the world’s largest consumers of table olives, where European table olives remain virtually excluded, while other international competitors benefit from preferential trade arrangements.

The impact of the agreement is therefore doubly negative: it structurally limits real export opportunities for European table olives in key markets, while at the same time increasing competitive pressure within the EU market itself through the preferential entry of products from third countries.

ASEMESA, ASSOM and PEMETE warn that this situation endangers the viability of the processing industry, associated employment, the profitability of agricultural holdings and the economic and social cohesion of extensive rural areas of the European Union, within a sector that has consistently demonstrated international leadership, strong export capacity and a high level of compliance with EU social, environmental and food safety standards.

The three organisations representing the  European table olive industry are currently in the final phase of establishing a new European Federation for the sector, with the aim of strengthening dialogue with EU institutions and defending the common interests of the industry in a coordinated manner at European level.

In light of the above, ASEMESA, ASSOM and PEMETE call on the European Commission and the Member States to urgently review the treatment of table olives in the EU–Mercosur agreement, in order to correct existing imbalances and avoid further structural damage to a sector that is strategic for the European economy, employment and rural areas.

For further information:
Asemesa
Tel: +34 954 22 94 85
Email: asemesa@asemesa.es