Press Releases

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The outcome of last week’s EU budget negotiations has been greeted with deep concern by African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar supplying states

Brussels, 21 December 2005 - The European Commission had proposed a special annual fund of
€190 million under the Financial Perspectives 2007-2013 for 18 ACP countries severely hit
by the recent EU sugar reform agreement. Commissioner Fischer Boel highlighted this
initiative as an example of the EU’s commitment to developing countries, but no reference to this fund is found in the text agreed by European Heads of State and Government on 16/17 December 2005.

See full press release here.

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ACP Sugar Group calls on EU Heads of State to address their urgent needs in budget talks

Hong Kong, 15 December 2005 - In the context of crucial discussions on the 2007-2013 EU budget, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Sugar Group calls on the EU to fully honour its commitment to ACP sugar supplying countries through the allocation of secure and adequate financial resources to enable them to adjust effectively to the disproportionate burden arising from the reform of the EU sugar regime.

See full press release here.

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ACP sugar group biggest losers of EU sugar reform; they deplore the insensitivity of the EU to their case

Brussels, 24 November 2005 - The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar group has expressed its outrage at the result of EU sugar reform negotiations. The final agreement has seen Member States agree to a 36% price cut in return for additional billions of euro in compensation to European sugar beet farmers and producers. The €8 billion in compensation to the EU sugar sector as well as approximately €3 billion in windfall gains for EU big business and multinational companies compares with the €40 million earmarked for the ACP in 2006 and only vague promises for subsequent years.

See full press release here.

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Fate of ACP sugar supplying states in hands of EU Agriculture Ministers

Brussels, 21 November 2005 - The fate of the ACP sugar supplying states lies in the hands of EU Agriculture Ministers in the final discussions on the reform of the EU sugar regime taking place in Brussels on 22-24 November. The 18 ACP countries who supply sugar to the EU under the ACP-EU Protocol would stand to lose up to €300 million a year in direct export earnings alone under proposals to cut sugar prices by 39% over four years.

See full press release here.

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ACP sugar group express gratitude to Glenys Kinnock, Bernard Lehideux and other
Development Committee MEPs for support in EU sugar reform debate

Edinburgh, 17 November 2005 - Speaking on the eve of the 10th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Edinburgh, the African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) sugar group have expressed their deep gratitude to Glenys Kinnock MEP and her colleagues for their ongoing public support for the ACP countries in the context of the proposed reform of the EU sugar regime.

See full press release here.

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ACP sugar group urges compromise on price cuts in EU sugar reform, with EU continuing to pay refining aid to European Refiners

Brussels, 11 November 2005 - African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states supplying sugar to the EU under the ACP-EU Sugar Protocol have agreed on a common position on the reform of the EU sugar regime. The position comprises of a net price cut of 19% spread over 8 years starting in 2008 with the retention of refining aid of 5.1%. This compares with a dramatic 39% cut over four years as proposed by the European Commission.

See full press release here.

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ACPs, LDCs, Oxfam and WWF on EU reform: Fair EU sugar reform could revitalise WTO talks

Brussels, 10 November 2005 - The EU's sugar regime reform proposals look set to sell out the interests of the world's poorest people and represent a missed opportunity for the EU to show its commitment to the WTO process, said advocacy groups defending developing countries.

See full press release here.

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ACP sugar supplying states welcome work of European Parliament on sugar reform proposals

Brussels, 5 October 2005 - The ACP sugar supplying states noted with interest the adoption of the Opinion of the Development Committee of the European Parliament on the proposed reform of the EU sugar regime. The ACP Sugar Group is particularly encouraged by the proposal of draftswoman Lady Glenys Kinnock MEP to phase in price cuts over a period of 8 years as compared with the 4 years proposed by the European Commission.

See full press release here.

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ACP Ministers reiterate concerns at EU Agriculture Council and stress the need for further dialogue

Brussels, 20 September 2005 - Ministers from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar supplying states, and representatives of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), described as encouraging their meeting with EU Agriculture Ministers and the European Commission as they were able to communicate their concerns and position on the proposed reform of the EU sugar regime.

See full press release here.

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ACP Ministers to meet EU counterparts to make case for just and equitable sugar reform

Brussels, 16 September 2005 - A Ministerial delegation from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states, along with representatives of the Least Developed Country (LDC) group will meet with their EU counterparts on 19 September in Brussels to discuss the proposed reform of the EU sugar regime.

See full press release here.
Also see the Joint ACP and LDC Sugar Groups Platform and the LDC press release.

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ACP cane growers join European beet farmers in protect against EU sugar reform proposals

Brussels, 18 July 2005 - A small group of sugar cane growers from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries will today join thousands of European sugar beet farmers to protest against European Commission plans to radically overhaul the EU sugar regime.

See full press release here.

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ACP States call on European Parliament and Member States to oppose Commission sugar reform proposals

Brussels, 13 July 2005 - African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar supplying states today called on the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to oppose proposals to reform the EU Sugar Regime that would result in huge losses for ACP economies.

See full press release here.

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African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries express extreme dissatisfaction with EU sugar reform proposals and accompanying measures – Reform too fast, too deep, too soon

Brussels, 22 June 2005 – ACP sugar supplying countries today stated their strong concern with the European Commission’s planned reform of the EU Sugar Regime. The ACP were responding to the publication of a legislative proposal to overhaul the existing regime by slashing raw sugar prices by 39% over a period of only four years.

See full press release here.
(Version française)

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ACP Sugar Group expresse extreme disappointment in WTO's Appellate Body ruling on EU Sugar Regime

Brussels, 3 May 2005 - The ACP Group says it is extremely disappointed with the ruling of the WTO's Appellate Body on the EU Sugar Regime, saying it ignores arguments crucial for the survival of small vulnerable economies.

See full press release here.
(Version française)

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ACP Sugar Group extremely dissappointed with WTO appellate body's ruling on the EU Sugar Regime

Brussels, 29 April 2005 - The ACP sugar suppliers under the Sugar Protocol to the European Union are extremely dissappointed with the ruling of the WTO's Appellate Body on the EU Sugar Regime. However, the ACP Sugar Group are encouraged by Commissioner Fischer Boel's statement, following the release of the Appellate Body report, that the Commission will continue to defend the valid interest of sugar producers and consumers in both the EU and ACP countries.

See full press release here.

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ACP Sugar supplying States develop a submission in response to the European Commission’s Communication on the reform of the EU Sugar Regime

Brussels, 6 October 2004 - The ACP States signatory to the Sugar Protocol hold the unanimous view that the Commission’s proposals on sugar, if adopted in their current form, would devastate their sugar industries with severe socio-economic consequences in their respective countries. Similarly, the LDC sugar exporting countries indicate that their legitimate expectations from the EBA initiative would be frustrated.

See full press release and ACP statement.