Nearly 900 sugar beet farmers meet to discuss EU plans to bring down sugar price
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The Lallintalo ("Lalli’s House") meeting hall in the rural community of Köyliö was full to overflowing on Monday as 800 - 900 sugar beet farmers from around Finland gathered there to discuss the future of their livelihood.
Speaking at the gathering, the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Juha Korkeaoja sought to calm emotions on the meeting floor. He said that the European Commission has not made any final decisions on the future of sugar farming in Finland and other EU countries.
Korkeaoja also said that the speech made by the Finnish representative against the proposals was one of the toughest that Finland has ever made in the EU.
The proposed EU reform would, in Korkeaoja’s view, bring sugar production in many EU member states to an end.
The proposal of the Commission would bring the European price of a ton of sugar down to slightly above EUR 400. The present price is EUR 600 in Europe. The world market price is EUR 200.
As Korkeaoja sees it, countries such as Finland which lie on the edges of the European Union, as well as poor Third World countries, are set to lose the most if the changes are implemented.
If the plans are carried out, sugar production in the EU would remain only in a few key member states, instead of today’s 20. Korkeaoja added that the new EU member states also feel betrayed.
A statement issued at the meeting calls on Finnish negotiators to work to secure the estimated 3,000 jobs in the sugar production chain. The statement reminds the negotiators that a number of EU summits have made clear decisions under which agriculture must be kept viable in all member states.
The Finnish sugar farmers insist that the overproduction of sugar in Europe is not Finland’s fault, as only 70% of the sugar consumed in Finland is produced in this country.
The venue of the meeting, "Lalli’s House", recalls a historical legend dating back to the 12th century. According to the story, Bishop Henry, who was bringing Christianity to Finland, was killed by Lalli, a local farmer, on the ice of nearby Lake Köyliönjärvi in 1156.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 9.11.2004 - TODAY |
 Nearly 900 sugar beet farmers meet to discuss EU plans to bring down sugar price |
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