FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
U.S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Last update:  Februrary 19, 2010

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Annual Report (May 2009)

In 2006, the EU instituted the first major sugar reform since the regime's inception, reducing price support for sugar by 36 percent while offering direct payments and quota buy-outs to growers and processors. In-quota sugar production has decreased by about 5.5 million MT, and exports have plummeted in response to reformed limits on quantity. Imports have remained largely unchanged. As such, the EU has gone from being a net exporter to a net importer of sugar. Internally, the reform has altered the market structure for EU sugar producers as more quota has been renounced in areas less favorable for sugar production than in more productive areas. Demand for bioethanol derived from sugar beet is giving growers and processors an option to remain in sugar. Annual EU-27 Report
 

Reports

EU Export Quota increased to 1 850 000 metric tons of refined sugar
EU Agriculture Council Backs Changes in Sugar Restructuring Scheme E47087 (September 2007)
Estonia’s Sugar Woes - GAIN report EN6003 (April 2007)
EU Agrees to Mandatory 2007/08 Sugar Production Cut - GAIN report E47014 (March 2007)
EU agrees one-year cut in sugar quota - GAIN report E36044 - March 2006)
European Commission publishes warning on sugar quota cut (February 2006)
Estonia’s Sugar Woes - GAIN Report EN6001 (January 2006)
EU agrees sugar reform - GAIN Report E35225 (December 2005)
UK reaction to the EU sugar reform deal - GAIN Report UK5033 (November 2005)
Polish reaction to the EU sugar reforms - GAIN Report PL5037 (November 2005)
EU proposes radical sugar reform - GAIN Report E35143 (July 2005)
EU loses appeal in WTO EU Sugar Export Subsidies Panel - GAIN Report E35082 (April 2005)
EU Sugar intervention used for the first time in 20 years - GAIN Report E35032 (February 2005)
German Position on EU Reform Proposal for Sugar Market Regime (February 2005)
Sugar and the European Union: Implication of WTO Findings and Reform (November 2004)
European Commission proposes sugar reform to begin 2005/2006 (July 2004)
EU extends ban on duty free Serbian sugar imports (February 2004)
EU Accession: Excess Sugar Stocks to be Taxed (January 2004)
ACP countries weigh in on EU sugar reform - GAIN Report E23237 (December 2003)
LDC's prefer fixed sugar quotas - GAIN Report E23220 (November 2003)
EU Commission proposes reforms for sugar, cotton, olive oil and tobacco - GAIN Report E23181 (September 2003)
EU suspends Serbia's tariff free access for sugar - GAIN Report E23066
 

Links

Reform of the Sugar Sector - link to full text of the reform proposals (European Commission - DG Agriculture) - Nov. 2005

U.K. Parliament Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's report on Reform of the Sugar Regime, July 2004 / U.K. Government's response, Sept. 2004

African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries express extreme dissatisfaction with EU sugar reform proposals and accompanying measures  - June2005

Oxfam Briefing Paper: A sweeter future: the potential for EU sugar reform to contribute to poverty reduction in Southern Africa

Reform of the sugar sector (CAP Reform- European Commission)- June 2005