Spanish farmers chuck tomatoes to fight EU-Morroco deal

(MADRID) - About 100 Spanish farmers threw 200 kilogrammes of tomatoes at the European Parliament offices in Madrid Tuesday to fight against an EU-Morocco agricultural trade deal.

Demonstrators called on the parliament to vote Thursday to reject the agreement, which replaces an earlier accord and gradually opens up the European Union and Moroccan markets to each other's farm exports.

"EU, don't betray our agriculture," read a banner held by demonstrators who came from the southern province of Andalusia, heavily dependant on agricultural exports.

"The European Commission's agriculture policy deserves tomato-throwing, like an artist that performs badly," said Andres Gongora of the Spanish farming body Coordinator of Farmers' and Stockbreeders' Organisations (COAG).

"The renewal of the accord will lead to the disappearance of thousands of jobs in production areas," he said.

Andalusia has highest jobless rate among Spain's regions at 31.23 percent.

EU - Morocco relations