The vote in the European Parliament was one of a number of major changes to the European Commission’s controversial Common Agriculture Policy reform proposals.
NFU sugar board chairman William Martin welcomed the result of the vote which supported the continuation of the right to collective negotiation for growers.
“In a market like the UK where there is only one processor of sugar beet, growers need to be represented and a balance of power preserved to ensure a fair deal is reached”, he said.
The vote yesterday marks an important milestone in the CAP reform proposals including the sugar regime and provides the European Parliament with a formal mandate to go into negotiations with the other institutions.
Mr Martin said: “I now call on the Council and UK Government to follow the important lead set by the European Parliament and ensure that UK growers’ interests are protected by ensuring they support the continuation of the right for collective negotiation beyond 2015.”
MEPs vote to extend EU sugar regime
