It followed the 2006 sugar reform which facilitated important restructuring of the sector across the EU (reducing production quotas by almost 6 million tonnes), making the sector more competitive and putting it in an economic position to move to a post-quota environment. The decision to abolish the sugar quota system - the only CAP quota regime still in place - was postponed by two years by Ministers and MEPs in the 2013 CAP Reform.

The meeting heard a report from the International Sugar Organisation that EU prices are currently below world market levels and that there are definitely a range of opportunities on the world market for the European sector to increase exports in the coming years.

Following the meeting's exchanges, which included a presentation from the European Parliament's Albert Dess, and the points raised by stakeholders and Member States, the Commission hopes that everyone is fully informed about the technical and administrative rules to apply in the post-quota era and their consequences in the run up to the end of quotas and be able to take the required decisions.

>> More about EU sugar rules

>> See the Sugar Market dashboard

Source: ec.europa.eu