62 MEPs call for sweeter deal for sugar cane refiners
Strasbourg, 24 May 2012 – EU rules on sugar are making the EU’s sugar refineries unviable with thousands of highly-skilled jobs at risk across Europe. London Conservative MEP Marina Yannakoudakis has led the charge against the European Commission’s competition-distorting rules. She, along with 61 MEPs from 11 countries, has today written to EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş calling for a level playing field for both cane and beet refiners.
Marina said: “The European Union spends a lot of time talking about growth and jobs. However, when it comes to protecting existing jobs or promoting growth in the EU sugar sector the Commission is sticking to its rigid import regulations and economically threatening Europe’s cane refiners.
“Thousands of jobs are at stake in some of the most economically deprived areas of the EU, including in the Silvertown area of my London constituency. Of course I want to protect British jobs, but the Commission needs to realise that this is not just an issue for the UK and I hope that the large number of MEPs from different countries signing up to this letter is testament to that.
“We are not asking for special treatment for cane refiners, just a level playing field so that they may remain economically viable. Independent reports have shown that the 2006 EU sugar reforms have favoured beet over cane, with new proposals threatening to exacerbate the situation.
“This will not only hurt European refiners, but sugar cane producers in the developing world will also be squeezed out. Why spend so much EU money on structural funds and development assistance when we can promote jobs at home and abroad by increasing opportunities to import cane sugar?”
The letter was also signed by Paolo De Castro MEP, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development as well as Janusz Wojciechowski MEP, the committee’s vice chair.
A list of the MEPs who signed the letter is attached. All London MEPs signed the letter apart from the Green Party’s Jean Lambert, who said that it would not in line with the Green group’s policy, and Gerard Batten who said that he had “advised Tate & Lyle that the only permanent solution to the problem is British withdrawal from the EU.”
For more information please contact Matthew Green: [email protected] or +44 7900 090770
http://www.marinayannakoudakis.com
http://facebook.com/MarinaMEP
http://twitter.com/MarinaMEP
List of MEPs who signed the letter
Country
Name of MEP
Political Group/Party
Bulgaria
Binev
Slavi
NI
Bulgaria
Dimitar
Stoyanov
NI
*
Bulgaria
Iotova
Iliana
S&D
Bulgaria
Kalfin
Ivailo
S&D
Bulgaria
Nedelcheva
Mariya
EPP
*
Bulgaria
Parvanova
Antonyia
ALDE
Bulgaria
Urutchev
Vladimir
EPP
Cyprus
Theocharous
Eleni
EPP
Czech Republic
Češková
Andrea
ECR
Czech Republic
Ouzký
Miroslav
ECR
Czech Republic
Tošenovský
Evžen
ECR
Finland
Essayah
Sari
EPP
Ireland
Childers
Nessa
S&D
Italy
De Castro
Paolo
S&D
*
Netherlands
van Dalen
Peter
ECR
Poland
Migalski
Marek
ECR
Poland
Wojciechowski
Janusz
ECR
*
Portugal
Alves
Luis Paulo
S&D
*
Portugal
Bastos
Regina
EPP
Portugal
Capoulas Santos
Luis Manuel
ALDE
*
Portugal
Correia De Campos
Antonio
ALDE
Portugal
Feio
Diogo
EPP
Portugal
Fernandes
José Manuel
EPP
Portugal
Patrão Neves
Maria
EPP
Portugal
Rangel
Paulo
EPP
Portugal
Teixeira
Nuno
EPP
Romania
Becali
George
NI
Romania
Niculescu
Rareş-Lucian
EPP
*
Romania
Severin
Adrian
NI
Romania
Vălean
Adina-Ioana
ALDE
UK
Agnew
Stuart
UKIP (EFD)
*
UK
Ashworth
Richard
Conservative (ECR)
*
UK
Bearder
Catherine
Liberal (ALDE)
UK
Bearder
Catherine
Liberal (ALDE)
UK
Bradbourne
Philip
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Bufton
John
UKIP (EFD)
UK
Callanan
Martin
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Campbell Bannerman
David
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Cashman
Michael
Labour (S&D)
UK
Chichester
Giles
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Dartmouth
William
UKIP (EFD)
UK
Deva
Nirj
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Elles
James
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Foster
Jacqueline
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Fox
Ashley
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Honeyball
Mary
Labour (S&D)
UK
Kamall
Syed
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Karim
Sajjad
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Kirkhope
Timothy
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Ludford
Sarah
Liberal (ALDE)
UK
Lyon
George
Liberal (ALDE)
*
UK
Martin
David
Labour (S&D)
UK
McAvan
Linda
Labour (S&D)
UK
McIntyre
Anthea
Conservative (ECR)
*
UK
Moraes
Claude
Labour (S&D)
UK
Nicholson
Jim
Ulster Conservatives and Unionists (ECR)
*
UK
Simpson
Brian
Labour (S&D)
*
UK
Stevenson
Struan
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Stihler
Catherine
Labour (S&D)
UK
Sturdy
Robert
Conservative (ECR)
*
UK
Tannock
Charles
Conservative (ECR)
UK
Yannakoudakis
Marina
Conservative (ECR)
*indicates member of Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Location of sugar cane refineries in the EU
Country
Refinery
City
Bulgaria
Zahar Bio AD, Ruse
Ruse
Bulgaria
Devnenski zaharen zavod EOOD
Devnya
Bulgaria
Burgaski zaharen zavod EAD
Burgas
Bulgaria
Bulgarska zahar 2002 OOD
Dolna Mitropolia
Bulgaria
Zaharen kombinat Plovdiv AD
Plovdiv
Bulgaria
Zahar EAD
Stara Zagora
Finland
Suomen Sokeri Oy
Porkkala
France
Sant Louis Sucre
Marseille
Italy
SFIR Raffineria di Brindisi S.p.A
Brindisi
Portugal
SIDUL Açucares Unipessoal, Lda.
Santa Iria de Azóia
Portugal
RAR - Refinarias de Açúcar Reunidas
Porto
Portugal
DAI - Soc. de Desenvolvimento Agro Industrial
Coruche
Romania
S.C. Zaharul Lieşti S.A.
Lieşti
Romania
S.C. LEMARCO CRISTAL S.R.L.
Ialomiţa
Romania
S.C. Agrana Roman
Roman
Romania
S.C. Agrana Buzău
Buzău
Romania
S.C. Agrana Ţăndărei
Ţăndărei
Spain
Azucarera Ebro
Guadalete
UK
Tate & Lyle Sugars
London
