§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment has been made of the impact of EU reform of the(a) sugar, (b) oil, (c) cotton, (d) tobacco and (e) olive oil regimes on trade exports to the United Kingdom from (i) least developed countries covered by the Everything but Arms agreement and (ii) non-least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa. [128615]
§ Hilary BennThe Commission is analysing a number of options for reform of the EU sugar regime although, to date, no formal proposals have been made. DFID has already undertaken its own analysis on the impact on developing countries of the four families of reform options suggested by the Commission earlier this year. In addition, DFID has commissioned a study to explore the potential need for adjustment assistance for ACP countries with preferential access to the EU sugar market that may lose out from a reform of this regime. This analysis includes both least developed and non-least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This study will be presented to the Commission.
As agreed at the Luxembourg Council (June 2003), the Commission is expected to release a second round CAP reform proposal covering olive oil, tobacco and cotton in autumn 2003. The reforms will be based on the approach and objectives of the June 2003 CAP reform. On receipt of these reform proposals, DFID will consider the issue of assessing their implications for developing countries. There have not been any recent changes to the EU oil seeds regime nor are there expected to be.