The sugar sector has undergone significant changes since the 2006 reform of the sugar quota regime. As a result, the EU has repositioned itself from the biggest exporter of sugar to the biggest importer, the average EU sugar price is higher than the world average and there is a sugar shortage in several EU Member States.

The situation we are experiencing today in several Member States demonstrates the failure of the reform of the CMO for sugar carried out in 2006/2007, which reduced production by 6 million tonnes and left both production and consumption exposed to international price speculation.

What are the Commission’s intentions as regards the sugar quota regime after 2014?

Will the Commission propose, in the context of the ongoing CAP review, the readjustment of the quota system to match production, processing and consumption requirements in each Member State?

Has the Commission considered the need to adjust the production of raw material in proportion to the potential of each Member State, thereby creating wealth and jobs and reducing imports of raw materials and/or processed sugar and the agri-food deficit of several Member States?

Can the Commission explain how the proposed isoglucose sector is to be developed?

If the quota regime is dropped, what measures will be taken to organise and balance the market in the sugar sector and in the isoglucose sector?