Brussels, 24/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - In a conclusions document published on Monday 24 January following a critical report from the EU Court of Auditors in November 2010 on the sugar industry restructuring plans, the EU Council of Ministers acknowledges “the need for increased efficiency and greater competitiveness for the sector, without prejudice to the future common market organisation for sugar.”
The report “recalls that the Commission has stated that the EU may allow exports of out-of-quota sugar in excess of its WTO commitments, provided the EU can demonstrate that these exports are not subsidised” and “the sugar regime incorporates the necessary tools to convert available out-of-quota sugar into quota sugar, so as to ensure stable supply on the internal market.”
The conclusions document adds that the Council “looks forward to the Commission study on price transmission in the sugar sector and its ex-post evaluation of CAP measures applied to the sugar sector.” (L.C./transl.fl)