Brussels, 24/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - On the sidelines of the Agriculture Council, the EU ministers held an informal meeting in Brussels on Monday- which was useful, but yielded no agreement- with their counterparts from the sugar producing ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) and the least-developed countries (LDCs, ACP and non-ACP). The aim was to seek a solution to limit the impact of the forthcoming reform of the EU sugar regime on these countries, which currently enjoy preferential access to the European market under the Sugar Protocol or the “Everything But Arms” initiative.
The action plan, unveiled by the European Commission, to use accompanying measures to limit the impact of this reform on poor countries, got a mixed reception: satisfaction that the EU has expressed its concern and intentions to minimise the damage, but serious concern about the level of reduction for guaranteed prices (-37%) and the timetable. ACPs and LDCs are calling for a transition period to adapt to the new system. Instead of the financial compensation called for by the ACP countries, on top of development aid resources, for the loss of revenue the fall in guaranteed prices will spell if the reform is adopted as it stands, the Commission is undertaking to maintain preferential access for ACPs and LDCs, and proposed to help them to boost the competitiveness of the sugar sector and diversify production. EUROPE will come back on this.