Brussels, 28/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU agriculture ministers are expected to reach an agreement in May or June on the proposal introducing minimum amendments to Regulation 247/2006 and introducing specific measures in agriculture to help the Union's outermost regions. Most of the delegations in the Special Agriculture Committee (SAC) gave their support to the draft proposal on Monday 26 April. This proposal extends certain derogations on “sugar quotas to the Azores; suppliers of basic products and milk to the Canary Islands) and updating the provisions in the 2006 regulation, to take into account market reforms in the sugar and wine sectors.
Parliament and the Council hope to reach a compromise on this dossier at the beginning of May. The two Parliamentary amendments currently being discussed focus on sugar to the Azores. They support the demand for extending the derogation for a local company (milk) that belongs to the Azores government and which wishes to reorientate its activities towards refining sugar. The Commission would be prepared to accept this request, on the condition that it receives certain commitments guaranteeing new investment from the local and central governments. Two delegations, Poland and Germany remained sceptical about the EP amendments on sugar. (L.C./transl.fl)