Brussels, 24/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the Council of Ministers adopted without debate the decision authorising the European Commission to negotiate with ACP countries and India for the opening, by the Community, of a customs quota for raw refining sugar. With the adoption of this mandate, the Council invites the Commission, after consultation with ACP countries, to introduce temporary provisions in order to ensure supply continuity pending the entry into force of a new agreement.
The agreement should cover the following points: (1) the duration of the agreement (five years); (2) the principle of annual fixing of quantities that are the subject of customs quotas on the basis of a Community supply report; (3) the principles of annual fixing of a minimum purchase price that must be paid by refineries depending on the guaranteed price of raw preferential sugar taking into account the adjustment aid fixed for the harvesting year concerned; (4) the special reduced duty for each harvesting year which depends on: - the concession to supplier countries guaranteeing supplies to Community refineries in order to meet the needs which are not covered by other Community and preferential availabilities, taking into account transport costs towards European Community ports; - the price of the global market; - duties granted under other agreements.