Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2005
102 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with regard to discussions within the EU on proposed reforms of the EU sugar regime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14182/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Commission outlined its initial ideas for reform of the EU sugar regime in a communication to the Council and the European Parliament last July. The communication was the subject of technical discussions at Council working group level in Brussels and there was a policy debate at the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting in November.
The European Commission's initial ideas for reform would, if adopted, have serious repercussions for sugar beet growing and processing here and I have made it clear in discussions in the Council of Ministers that they are unacceptable. Ireland is in a group of ten member states with shared concerns about the Commission's proposals in their current form and we made a joint ministerial submission to the Commission outlining these concerns.
The next step will be the publication of formal legislative proposals by the Commission which are expected to be published on 22 June. In the forthcoming negotiations on the reform proposals, my overall objective will be to ensure that the future shape of the EU sugar regime is consistent with the continuation of an efficient sugar beet growing and processing industry in this country.
