Commission forecast regarding EU and world sugar prices post 2017

3.4.2014

Question for written answer E-004189-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Marina Yannakoudakis (ECR)

A recent Commission forecast (‘Prospects for Agricultural Markets and Income in the EU 2013‐2023’, December 2013) predicts that the world sugar price and the EU sugar price ‘will merge’ following the expiry of the EU quota system in 2017, while import volumes will drastically fall.

European cane refiners currently pay a ‘CXL duty’ of EUR 98 per tonne on approximately 30% of their raw material imports from countries such as Australia, Brazil and Cuba.

1. Does the Commission accept that CXL imports could become a redundant source of raw cane sugar supply if EU and world sugar prices converge?

2. Does the Commission plan to abolish the EUR 98 CXL duty, given that it artificially inflates the price of raw cane sugar, making it an uncompetitive source of raw material for refiners?

3. Moreover, what is the justification for keeping the CXL duty post 2017, thereby restricting cane refiners’ ability to compete once the EU sugar production quotas for beet and isoglucose cease to exist?

OJ C 375, 22/10/2014