SUGAR: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CRITICISES EU REFORM PLANS

摘要

Cuts in the price of sugar should be kept to "what is strictly necessary" in the reform of the EU's sugar sector, the European Parliament said in a resolution adopted on March 10 by 326 MEPs (with 68 against and 24 abstentions). The motion is sharplycritical of the Commission's plans for its reform of the EU's sugar market The Parliament also stated its position on sugar through an oral question to Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel on March 10 before a debate proper. It asked the Commission to indicate whether it supports the July 2004 Communication, when it intends to present its proposal for the reform and what its main thrust will be, and "whether it intends to maintain sustainable sugar production in the EU and confirm the Union's current commitments vis-a-vis the ACP states and India, as well as those given under the 'Everything But Arms' initiative". Mrs Fischer Boel defended the Commission's reform plans and responded to the points raised in the text.