04/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – At the Outermost Regions group on Monday 3 July, member state experts held a first exchange of views on a possible retroactive increase on rum quotas for several outermost regions (OR) - Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and La Réunion. The proposal introduced by the European Commission on 9 June seeks to amend the annual quota set out until 31 December of 120,000 hectolitres of pure alcohol by a Council decision (No.189/2014/EU) and increase it to 144,000 hectolitres a year, retroactively until 1 January 2016. The Commission considers that the quota is unsuited to the significant increase in rum production. We have been informed that the EP will give its opinion in October. The Council working group will then meet up to legislate before the end of the year. (PH)