Brussels, 09/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 October, the EU Council of Ministers adopted by qualified majority the two regulations on relaunching the programme for restructuring the sugar sector. A compromise had been reached on 26 September within the Council of European agriculture ministers. The European Parliament had given its advisory opinion on this dossier the night before (EUROPE 9510). Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia voted against these texts, whereas three other delegations (Romania, Latvia and Lithuania) abstained.
We recall that the adjustments made to the current regime must allow 3.8 million tonnes of sugar quotas to be removed, in addition to the 2.2 million tonnes already withdrawn from the market. If this objective is not reached, the European Commission will, at the end of February 2010 at the latest, impose a compulsory quota reduction, rewarding countries that have played an active part in the restructuring phase. The regulations will enter into force as foreseen by 31 October 2007. (lc)