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Written question asked by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Thursday, 8 December 2005.

Jamaica: Sugar

Question
What measures they are supporting, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to compensate Jamaica for its loss of income arising from the recent reform of the European Union sugar regime.
Answer

The agreement reached at 24 November Agriculture Council to reform the EU sugar regime will bring it into line with other already reformed CAP sectors and will benefit many developing countries. But we recognise the negative impacts that the EU reforms will have on some African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producers, including Jamaica, with preferential access to the EU market.As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said in his speech at Guildhall on 14 November (www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page8524.asp), we recognise the problem of preference erosion. This does not argue for maintaining the current system, but it does argue for helping the countries affected through the transition. The EU will provide transitional assistance to help ACP producers improve their efficiency in the sugar sector where feasible or diversify into more profitable sectors. Ensuring that credible and timely transitional assistance is in place remains a priority for the UK.We have supported the Commission’s proposal of €40 million in transitional assistance for ACP producers in the first year (2006). We have worked hard to secure this amount in the negotiations on the 2006 EU budget, which we hope will formally be agreed by the European Parliament when it meets in a plenary session in mid-December. Further funding will be available over the following seven years, and the UK will fight to ensure it is adequate and timely.The Department for International Development (DfID) is collaborating with the World Bank to assess the implications of the EU reforms for the rural economy as a whole. DfID is also supporting the Planning Institute of Jamaica to carry out a study on the social impact of the erosion of sugar preferences and how best to help those adversely affected by the changes.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
2656; 676 c121WA
Session
2005-06
Subjects
EU external trade Reform Sugar EU aid Jamaica ACP countries Common sugar regime Economic partnership agreements
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk