Alba ȥla
It is always interesting for me as a nationalism studies graduate to see how specific nationalist interest prevails over even sophisticated and consolidated multinationals structures and institutions. Let’s take the recent example of the outbreak of Escheria coli and the affected cases in Europe. First Germany accused Spain as the source of infected cucumbers and started a discussion about asking potential compensation for the damage done. But after the doubts were cleared and Spain was dissolved it was the time for Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero to firmly declare that “we are going to get reparations and the return of Spanish products to their rightful place.” Germany’s Angela Merkel tried to justify itself by explaining that it is an EU obligation to issue proper warning in such cases. Anxieties passed back and forth borders with Russia finally deciding to ban all vegetable imports from the EU.
In the context of being two of the old members of the European Union, whose Common Agriculture Policy has for years consumed the lion share of the budget, it might seem perplexing for the EU aspiring countries to see this rift between Germany and Spain. The economic impetus and the common market are among the strongest most fundamental pillars behind the very core of the EU as a family of member states. In such an event a reaction is expected to be one of camaraderie and common effort to seek the cause of the bacteria spread and to take measures that would limit the effect on the people, rather than of immediate hostility and blame game. The Spanish farmers dumping fruits and vegetables at the gates of the German consulate doesn’t exactly qualify as a sign of solidarity and collaboration. Who can blame them? According to the NYT, the weekly lost revenue is estimated around $ 286 million.
The EU’s response however did come in deciding to allocate a hearty 150 million compensation package starting for farmers producing tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce, the ones that were hit the hardest. EU also acknowledged that this situation brought up new issues about compensation of vegetable producers, something that is being done for the first time in comparison to other food sectors such as diary or meat. Also the EU admitted that revisions should be done to the early warning system for unhealthy products.
Notwithstanding, the impact that this transnational issue had on the relations between these two countries is a good learning real case for other countries. You might have common standards of quality and control, no customs fees and wide open free markets but when it comes to the blame game for people that die due to sickness-ridden food each country for its own sake. And for the countries that still aspire to join the EU, E.Coli is a good exercise in checking their capacities to handle such situations. Almost everywhere, vegetable prices went down due to deep plunges in demand, despite National Food Authorities claiming that the bacteria was limited to northern Germany products. Implementing proper checking systems in the realm of food and agriculture should be coupled with necessary measures to protect domestic food trade. Since their economies are more fragile and would be even more harmed by such cases they need to make sure that whatever the case they don’t make themselves susceptible to blame games from other powerful members.
According to the most recent news the epidemic is subsiding. They haven’t still found the source of the problem; a farm tested for potential infected sprouts resulted negative in the tests. However, wherever it comes from, it seems that the E. Coli is truly a powerful bacterium since it can get to interstate relations as well as to people’s bodies.
