Brussels, 18/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - By adopting through a huge majority the report by Dominique Souchet (France, UEN), the European Parliament expresses its concern at the effects on the processed food and drinks industry on the reduction of export refunds, as proposed by the European Commission in the framework of amending the 1993 Regulation on goods in the from of processed agricultural products. The Parliamentary Committee considers that the industrial sector is unjustly affected by the annual budgetary reduction of 145 million euro, which the EU agreed to in the framework of the WTO, and does not find very convincing the remedy, proposed by the European Commission, consisting in the duty-free import of the raw material necessary from third countries. The report considers that the Commission's proposal can only be an emergency and provisional response and that another solution should be sought in the framework of WTO negotiations. The Souchet Report demands, notably: (1) special treatment for small exporters, (2) an exemption, guaranteeing that fresh milk may be supplied from the Community market, and (3) a preferential system for sugar originating in the Community. Plenary will discuss this report in Brussels on Wednesday.