EU farm chief fears states may block her sugar reform blueprint

By David Cronin

Date: 26/05/05

Mariann Fischer Boel, the European commissioner for agriculture, has conceded that EU governments may block her sugar reform efforts.

In a proposal to be unveiled on 22 June, the Danish commissioner will seek cuts of 39% in the EU's support price for white sugar and 42% to the minimum sugar beet price. These would go considerably further than the more modest recommendations made by her predecessor Franz Fischler last year.

Ten EU governments have already written to Fischer Boel indicating they will oppose major reductions amid fears they would devastate Europe's sugar industry. These include Italy, Spain, Finland, Greece, Ireland and Hungary.

She told European Voice that the negotiations with member states would be difficult. "These are not sweet discussions and I am ready to stand up. I could sit on my hands - that would be the easiest thing to do. But if I do nothing, then I spoil the whole sugar production [in Europe]."

The Commission's proposal is set to be the most serious effort to shake up the EU's sugar policy since it came into effect in 1968.

According to Fischer Boel, the reform is necessary because of the 'Everything But Arms' decision on facilitating imports to the EU from the world's 49 least developed countries.

After 2009, sugar exporters from these countries are to have unrestricted access to the EU's markets.

Fischer Boel confirmed too that she had abandoned a suggestion in the Fischler blueprint that the reforms should be reviewed after a few years. "For me, it is important that the reform is sustainable," she said. "At the end of the day, farmers and industry would rather know the conditions for the future, not only for two years."

Comments by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mariann Fischer Boel, on the prospects of her reform proposals for the EU's sugar production and trade regimes. The proposal, which was facing opposition from a number of Member States, was to be presented on 22 June 2005.

European Commission: DG Agriculture: Agricultural markets: Sugar http://ec.europa.eu/comm/agriculture/markets/sugar/index_en.htm

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