Considerations on COM(2024)383 -

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dossier COM(2024)383 - .
document COM(2024)383
date September  2, 2024
 
(1) The International Sugar Agreement, 1992 (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 92/580/EEC1 and entered into force on 1 January 1993. The Agreement was concluded for a period of three years until 31 December 1995.

(2) Pursuant to Articles 3 and 8 of the Agreement, the International Sugar Council (‘ISC’) has been set up to adopt certain decisions. Pursuant to Article 45(2) of the Agreement, the ISC may extend the Agreement for successive periods, not exceeding two years on each occasion. Since its conclusion, the Agreement has regularly been extended for further periods of two years. The Agreement was last extended by decision of the ISC in November 20232 and remains in force until 31 December 2024.

(3) In 2021, the ISC agreed to amend the Agreement and in particular Articles 1, 23, 25, 32, 33, and 34 thereof. The amendments to the Agreement were originally intended to enter into force on 1 January 2024. During its 62nd session the ISC agreed to prolong the period in which Members could deposit their instrument of acceptance of the amendments until 30 April 2024 while the entry into force of the amended Agreement was postponed to 1 January 2025. During the 64th Session of the ISC, these dates have been postponed further to 30 June 2026 and 1 January 2027 respectively. In view of this, the validity of the Agreement in its current wording needs to be extended.

(4) The ISC, during its 65th session to be held on 29 November 2024, is to adopt a decision on the extension of the Agreement in its current wording until 31 December 2026.

(5) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the 65th session of the ISC, as a further extension of the Agreement is in the interest of the Union.