Brussels, 06/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - At an event at the European Parliament on Tuesday 6 November, the European beet growers (CIBE), the sugar producers (CEFS), the employees' union (EFFAT) and the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) called for the single common market organisation (CMO) for sugar to be extended until 2020. These organisations believe that the extension of the current CMO for sugar until 2020 would make it possible to maintain decent jobs and contribute to the development opportunities at a time when this is proving of the greatest benefit. It would also guarantee stability thanks to sufficient supplies of sugar and sustainable prices for producers, processors, suppliers, employees and consumers. The European Commission is proposing to get rid of sugar quotas in 2015.
The European sugar sector has experienced a major restructuring since the reforms of 2006 and 83 factories - nearly half of the total number - have shut up shop. More than 22,000 direct jobs have been lost and more than 150,000 producers have stopped growing sugar beet. The reform of the single CMO for sugar should not bring about additional problems for the workers in the sector, particularly in these times of considerable economic and social crisis, explained Harald Wiedenhofer, secretary general of EFFAT (the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism trade unions).
A solid and competitive sugar sector will be the driving force behind the rural economy, particularly in regions with a long history of growing sugar beet. President of the CEFS (Comité européen des fabricants de sucre or European Sugar Sector) Johann Marihart said that with the sector becoming increasingly competitive, it needs time to ensure the return on its investments. The sector needs stability and predictability.
Vice-president of the CIBE (the International Confederation of European Sugar Beet) Jos Van Campen said that the future of sugar beet in Europe seems promising, as long as the head of steam and efforts made so far are not undermined by incoherent decisions jeopardising sustainability. Van Campen believes that the model contract in the sugar beet sector is exemplary.
Speaking on behalf of the ACP group, Ambassador of Guyana Patrick Gomes also called for an intelligent, sustainable and inclusive future for a few of the least-developed countries. Stressing the fact that many of them are long-standing trade partners with small-scale vulnerable economies, he stressed the need for coherence between the European policies in the fields of agriculture, development and trade. The European market must remain stable in order to maintain a viable market for suppliers, particularly those from the ACP/LDC countries, he said. (LC/transl.fl)