WRITTEN QUESTION E-0833/02 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Spain's call for a sugar quota commensurate with the amount of sugar it consumes.
Date: 2002-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, World Trade Organisation, common organisation of markets, per capita consumption, production quota, sugar, sugar industry

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/145

Therefore, the Commission considers advisable and praiseworthy to encourage the integration of solar
energy in building as part of town planning and this type of measure are in line with Commission policy
on renewable energy sources. The renewable energy market in the Union cannot be expected to develop
regularly without a voluntarist policy in the medium term on the part of the public authorities. However,
the specific renewable energy sectors chosen by Member States is decided under the umbrella of
subsidiarity and based on different variable factors like technical potential of the different sources, socio-
economic conditions, cost-benefit analysis and others.

(1) Green Paper Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply. COM(2000) 769 final.
(2) OJ C 213 E, 31.7.2001.

(2002/C 229 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0833/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 March 2002)

Subject: Spain’s call for a sugar quota commensurate with the amount of sugar it consumes

Spanish farmers consider that their country is these days the only major sugar producer with a quota
lower than its demand and that it will also be the only country neglected when the EU is enlarged to take
in eastern Europe.

Within the sugar industry it is thought that the current production quota should be increased by at least
50 000 tonnes to 1 million tonnes 5 a figure which is closer to the country’s consumption, calculated at
1,2 million tonnes.

Why does the European Union maintain this form of discrimination against Spain, which the sugar
industry regards as unacceptable? To what extent would the Commission be prepared to consider the
complaints of Spanish sugar growers, who feel themselves to be unfairly neglected and discriminated
against under Community law, by comparison with the favourable treatment received by other major
Community sugar producers?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2002)

Spain’s sugar quotas were negotiated at the time of accession on the basis of average sugar production
figures with recent production of isoglucose taken into account. Overall Spain was not in the shortfall.

The quota system principles do not permit adjustment in line with the trend of national production or
consumption levels. Beet growers in Spain are thus being treated in the same way as growers in other
Member States and are in no way discriminated against or disfavoured.

As the Community is overall in surplus for sugar and refund-aided exports are restricted under World
Trade Organisation rules, any increase in one national quota implies reductions among the others.

When retention of the quota system has been decided on, as last occurred in June 2001 (Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 of 19 June 2001 on common organisation of the markets in the sugar
sector (1)) the Council has not seen fit to reopen discussion of the allocations.

(1) OJ L 178, 30.6.2001.