Brussels, 10/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 8 November, the European Commission adopted a proposal to allow Romania and Bulgaria to be able to benefit from sugar quotas and aid when they join the EU on 1 January 2007.
Quotas. Under the proposal, Bulgaria and Romania will have sugar production quotas of 4m752 tonnes and 109,162 tonnes respectively, and 67,708 tonnes and 11,947 tonnes respectively for isoglucose.
Direct payments. Direct payments (aid to farmers) have been introduced according to the same schedule of increments as for the other crops (i.e. ten years starting in 2007 at a level of 25% of the direct payments then applicable in the EU15). To determine the amount of the sugar direct payments, the same calculation method has been used as for EU25. In 2007, Romania will get EUR 1.930 million in aid, and Bulgaria EUR 84,000 (making a total of EUR 2.014 mil). The total aid for the two countries in 2008 will be EUR 2.902 mil, EUR 3.69 mil in 2009, EUR 4.217 mil in 2010, EUR 5.271 mil in 2011, EUR 6.326 in 2012, EUR 7.38 mil in 2013, EUR 8.434 mil in 2014, EUR 9.489 mil in 2015 and EUR 10.543 mil in 2016 and the following yeas.
Income. The tax on sugar production (12 euros per tonne of the sugar and inulin syrup quota and 6 euros a tonne for igoglucose) will net a total of EUR 1.841 mil a year in Romania and Bulgaria, starting from the 2007/8 marketing year.
Restructuring. Provisional restructuring aid for the sugar industry of EUR 26.7 mil has been earmarked for the two countries in 2007/8 and EUR 17.4 mil in 2008/9. (lc)