THE COMMON MARKET AND SPANISH CITRUS FRUITS: INTEGRATION AS A PROBLEM

Numerous studies and reports written both in Spain and the Community predict that the Spanish sector of fruits and vegetables in general, and citrus fruits in particular, will be among the most benefited by Spain’s integration in the Community.

This paper first indicates, in a summarized way, that a closer look at the consequences of this integration shows that the advantages for the citrus sector will not be as numerous as suggested.
Secondly, the author presents a wide range of problems which are not usually taken into account due to their structural nature, but which will reduce these advantages still more.

Finally, the paper stresses the need to solve the problems of the citrus sector before integration takes place.
To this end, our farmers should become more professional and be given the necessary instruments to better know and express their problems and to defend their interests as they will have to when they join the producers’ associations of the Community.

Also, before Spain’s accession the conflict with the South-Western region of France should be settled by those concerned.

Integration is not a panacea for the sector, but just an alternative, a challenge, a problem of competitivity.

VIII Symposium on Horticultural Economics

E. Agut

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1984.155.8