§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are committed to retaining current market access for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar post 2005. [HL4252]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalReviews are expected of both the Lomé Sugar Protocol and the Special Preferential Sugar (SPS) variable supply arrangements before 2005. The SPS arrangements are due for review in 2000/01 alongside the EU internal sugar regime, and some change cannot be ruled out. The EU is seeking a review of the Lomé Sugar Protocol by 2005. The EU directives for negotiating a successor agreement to the Lomé Convention include a commitment to seek ways of maintaining levels of market access for ACP countries equivalent to current levels.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they would interpret the word "review" in the context of the Sugar Protocol in 2004; and whether they will oppose any renegotiation of the Protocol at that time. [HL4255]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe EU negotiating directives for the negotiation of a successor agreement to the Lomé Convention call for a review of the Banana, Beef and Sugar Protocols, taking account of the special status of the Sugar Protocol, before 2005. Such a review would be without prejudice to the eventual outcome, and does not necessarily imply an end to or a renegotiation of the Sugar Protocol.