Brussels, 12/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - As anticipated (EUROPE of 14 December 2004, p.15), the European Commission has confirmed that the EU is to appeal the WTO's ruling against its regime of aid to producers of sugar, this Thursday. On 13 December, the three plaintiffs (Brazil, Thailand and Australia) agreed to give the EU an extra month on top of the two months usually allowed for appeals to be presented. The WTO dispute settlement body (the "sugar panel") is to return its final verdict at the end of March or early April, before the Commission presents its legislative proposals on the reform of the sugar sector at the end of May.