The ACP calls for action in the rice sector

At its November 23 rd 2003 Council Meeting, ACP ministers called on the EU to take full account of the adverse effects on the ACP rice industry caused by changes to the common market organisation for rice and to consider remedial and compensatory actions to alleviate the negative impact on ACP rice exporters. The ACP also requested the EU to expedite the implementation of existing rice-sector support programmes. Comment: The call to expedite the implementation of existing rice-sector support programmes, illustrates the problems faced in effectively deploying support to sectoral restructuring under existing EDF rules and reinforces the demands made by the ACP in the context of the EPA negotiations for restructuring assistance which is deployed outside of existing EDF rules and procedures.At its November 23 rd 2003 Council Meeting, ACP ministers called on the EU to..