 On Wednesday 10 November 2004, representatives of interested organisations, including the sugar industry and the beetgrowers' associations, expressed and explained their points of view to the members of the permanent parliamentary committee for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in preparation for the discussions of the permanent parliamentary commission with the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality on 18 November.
European sugar policy
It is expected that the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council will discuss the reform of the European sugar policy on 22 and 23 November this year. Rounds of consultations and discussions are being held in preparation for this, to enable interested parties to have their say.
Key aspects
The three key aspects of the reform of the European sugar market are:
- Elimination of distortions to trade (such as subsidies for quota sugar exported to the world market);
- Adjustment of the European sugar sector to a competitive world trade with lower prices;
- Facilitating for sugar imports, especially from the ‘least developed countries’.
Interests
During the round table discussion on 10 November, representatives of the Platform Toekomst Suikermarkt [Platform for the Future of the Sugar Market] (on behalf of the industry and growers), CIUS Nederland (the sugar processing industry), LTO Nederland, the agriculture trade union Nederlandse Akkerbouw Vakbond NAV, the Centrum voor Landbouw en Milieu CLM [Centre for Agriculture and Environment] and Oxfam/Novib presented and explained their interests and wishes to the members of the commission.
It will surprise no one that the viewpoints of LTO, the NAV and the Platform are similar or even identical. These bodies are all against sharp price reductions and in favour of regulating the sugar supply in the EU in conformity with the aims of the WTO and the Common Agricultural Policy. The CLM focuses mainly on the role of sugar in diet, the relationship with increased obesity and the consequences of this for public health. CIUS Nederland advocates far-reaching liberalisation and Oxfam/Novib emphasises the interests of the ‘least developed countries’, for which the export of sugar are of considerable economic importance.
Plea
Chairman Jos van Campen of the Management Board of Cosun: “The European Commission’s reform plan goes too far and is ill-advised. Too far, because there is an alternative. Ill-advised, because it will throw the baby out with the bath water.”
Common ground
During the discussions on 10 November it was found that there was much common ground. Almost everyone was in favour of the regulation of the sugar supply on the European market, cessation of the subsidies for sugar exported to the world market, and measures to cushion the impact on the ‘least developed countries’. CIUS continues to push for more flexibility in and deregulation of the Dutch and international sugar markets. The permanent commission responded positively to the common position of so many different organisations.
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