With member state experts due to meet the following day, European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan announced on Wednesday 26 April that he had “decided not to propose a vote” on the temporary exceptional measures suggested by the Commission to supply the sugar market.
Implementation of these measures – reduced tariff imports, new marketing of out-of-quota sugar – has met with opposition from EU beet growers, manufacturers, agricultural organisations, sugar cane refiners and food sector trade unions as the ending of sugar quotas on 30 September draws near. Hogan said that the Commission had assessed market data and sugar stocks within the EU and had found no sugar supply shortages.
In keeping with the Commissioner's commitment to keep the market situation under close review, the Commission services will continue to closely monitor the market and, as required, to reassess the situation as appropriate, Hogan stated. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)