Olive oil gives a distinct attraction to the Mediterranean countries and is the center to the Southern Mediterranean economic development. It is the symbol of peace and prosperity worldwide.
The EU olive oil producing countries push towards marketing strategies. Spain takes the leading position of olive oil producing, Italy takes the lead in marketing and Greece takes the lead in producing best quality of extra virgin olive oil, between Spain, Italy and the world.
Tunisia and Morocco with adaptation of EU technology, can take a significant position in the world’s olive oil production, and Syria will follow with production and consumption, earning an important place in the olive oil sector, in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Countries.
The European olive oil sector has received subsidies for production of olive oil from the Common Agricultural Policy. Other countries far from the Mediterranean region, like Argentina, South America and Australia, are participating in the international competition, with considerable investments in the olive oil sector, by planting a million olive trees yearly.
The SEMC (Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Countries) are less advanced in production and marketing and they could benefit from the Euro-Mediterranean technology, with promising opportunities that will open new doors for growth in these countries, socially and environmentally.
The goals of both EU and SEMC are becoming more and more interdependent, by securing jobs, maximize income and also maximize the demand for the products, exterminating poverty and immigration. The manual-mechanical harvesting techniques improve the quality of the oil and preserve jobs.
A strong cooperation network between the whole Mediterranean olive oil producers is the best way to optimize the potentiality, the olive oil sector has to offer.