Agricultural prices 1997/1998: fixation of sugar prices and of the standard quality of beet

Agricultural prices 1997/1998 - Sugar. Adopting the report by Mr Robert STURDY (PPE, UK), the European Parliament supported its rapporteur in accepting authorization for Spain and Portugal to grant national aid. Thus Spain is authorized to grant adaptation aid to the sugar-producing industries for the 1997/1998 and 1999/2000 marketing years. The aid is limited to ECU 24 million for the period. Portugal may provide national aid to facilitate the introduction of sugar beet as an agricultural crop. This aid is to be degressive until the year 2001 and may not exceed ECU 2.5 million in the next marketing year. Parliament also considered that the Commission should modify the fixed element of the refund for sugar storage to reflect changing costs and that it should be reviewed every three years.�