(Strasbourg) – Banking Union, use of antibiotics for farming, relations between EU and Macedonia: these are some of the items on the agenda of the European Parliament, which is holding its plenary session today. One of the hottest issues was the authorisation to import olive oil from Tunisia, duty free, partly to help the economy of the North-African country. This means 70 thousand tons of extra-virgin olive oil in two years (35 thousand tons a year): a comparatively small amount compared with oil from the larger European agriculture-producing countries (Italy, Greece, Spain), yet challenged by the trade associations. The decision, which must now be approved by the EU Council, would become effective in late Spring. The rapporteur, French MEP Marielle de Sarnez, stated: “The adoption of such emergency measures is good news for Tunisia, which is going through a very bad time. The rise in the amount of duty-free olive oil without increasing the total volume of exports will be a precious help for Tunisia and should not disrupt the European market. What is at stake here is the successful transition of Tunisia to democracy, which is key not just for Tunisia but for Europeans as well”. The quality and traceability of the imported oils will be guaranteed, and the impact of such measures on the European market will undergo an interim assessment.