SUGAR BEET growers from across Europe are to press EU ministers in Brussels on Mon (July 18) for the need to moderate the current proposals for reforming the EU sugar regime.

The proposals in their current form will slash prices by 39% between 2006 and 2010 with the expected loss of 25,000 jobs.

The need to reform the sugar regime is a direct result of the World Trade Organisation ruling that found EU export subsidies to be illegal.

Demonstrators from across Europe will be joined by producers from the 70 African Caribbean and Pacific nations that will also lose out if the proposals go ahead. 

The developing countries want less drastic price cuts spread over eight years.

Arvin Boolell, Mauritian agriculture minister, said the price cuts would cost his country €100m/year and urged EU ministers to propose a more generous compensation package than the current €40m on offer.