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AFRICAN Caribbean and Pacific countries have castigated the decision by the European Union to adopt the Common Agricultural Policy reform that will result in the abolition of sugar quotas in 2017. This was one of the resolutions that ACP ministers responsible for sugar agreed to in a communiqué issued after the 13th ACP ministerial conference on sugar held in Fiji last week.
The ministers expressed disappointment at the decision that was reached despite their representation for the current CAP to be extended until 2020, a position which was strongly supported by the European Parliament and the European sugar stakeholders.
The ministers re-emphasised their fears on the Commission’s report on the prospects for agricultural markets in the EU 2012-2020 that “the end of the EU quota will lead to a reduction of the EU domestic sugar price and make preferential access less attractive”.
They also felt strongly that the EU decision overlooked the impact of its domestic CAP proposals on ACP’s trade and developmental interests and the specific commitment taken by the EU in the Lisbon Treaty and the Cotonou Agreement to ensure EU policy coherence.
They added that “there is need for certainty and consistency in our trading relationship with the EU especially since with their support (EU), the ACP countries have embarked upon major reforms and a restructuring programme to ensure the long-term sustainability of our sugar industries.”
Ministers also called on the European Commission to be flexible in the ongoing EPA negotiations so as to avoid the loss of market access to the EU for countries who may fail to complete negotiations in time for necessary legislation to be put in place by September 30 next year.
Support provided by the EU under the Accompanying Measures Support Programme (AMSP) also came under review, and ministers urged the EU to show flexibility in the disbursement of the allocations and to ensure that unutilised funds are promptly reallocated.
ACP ministers also resolved to seek the review of the AMSP in the form of an integrated Commodity Development Programme.
Ministers also encouraged deeper collaboration and an exchange of best practices among the research centres of the ACP regions, and renewed their request for a prolongation of the support to the ACP Sugar Research sector beyond the current 13 million euros programme in 2013.
The ministers also resolved to embrace innovation and research which are critical in promoting value addition, diversification that leads to increased productivity and competitiveness of their sugar industries.
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