International Sugar Agreement, 1992: amendment

The European Parliament adopted by 449 votes to 25, with 85 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision concerning the conclusion of the amendments to the International Sugar Agreement, 1992.

As a reminder, the EU is a Party to the International Sugar Agreement adopted in 1992 by the United Nations Sugar Conference and a member of the International Sugar Organization (‘ISO’).

The Commission was authorised by the Council to open negotiations with the other parties to the International Sugar Agreement, with a view to modernise the Agreement, in particular as regards the discrepancies between the number of votes and financial contributions of Members and their relative position in the global sugar market and the rules for the appointment of the Executive Director.

During the 59th meeting of the International Sugar Council on 26 November 2021, the International Sugar Council (‘ISC’) voted unanimously in favour of recommending the Members of ISO to amend the Agreement.

The revised objectives of the International Sugar Agreement are as follows:

- to ensure enhanced international cooperation in connection with world sugar and sweeteners matters as well as related issues, including bioenergy and fuel ethanol production from sugar crops;

- to provide a forum for intergovernmental consultations on sugar and sweeteners markets as well as markets for sugar industry by-products as well sugar-crop based fuel ethanol;

- to facilitate trade by collecting and providing information on the world sugar market and other sweeteners, as well as bioenergy and sugar-crop based fuel ethanol;

- to encourage increased demand for sugar and sugar crops, particularly for non-food uses.

In the light of the above, the European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the amendments to the Agreement.