SUGAR: EU REFORM PLANS LIKELY TO BE DELAYED.

After the latest debate by EU Agriculture Ministers on December 21, the outgoing Dutch Presidency concluded that all delegations agreed that the status quo in the common market organisation for sugar was not sustainable and that the competitive position of the EU sugar industry really needed to be strengthened. But they also acknowledged the need to explore further contacts with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and other developing nations and to clarify the pending issues in the World Trade Organisation as the Commission's legislative proposal will have to take account of