Alleged customs duty fraud involving agricultural imports from Morocco

Question for written answer  E-000495/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Gabriel Mato (PPE)

The Coordinator of Farmer and Livestock Breeder Organisations in Spain has warned of a suspected fraud network that might be used to avoid paying customs duty on agricultural imports from Morocco arriving in the EU through ports in Spain and France.

• 1.Will there be an investigation into whether the French and Spanish Governments are carrying out all of the necessary controls so that producers from these countries do not suffer huge losses?
• 2.Will the Commission ask the Spanish Government to provide data on the customs duties paid to the Spanish tax authorities by companies that have brought fruit and vegetable products from Morocco into Europe?
• 3.What steps have the EU institutions taken to address the irregularities in the import of fruit and vegetable products from Morocco since the European Anti-Fraud Office confirmed that there was foul play in 2007?