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A:
EU confirms restoration of preferential sugar tariffs
Belgrade,
9 August 2004
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus said that the European Union has confirmed a European Commission’s decision to restore the preferential treatment for sugar imported from Serbia-Montenegro.
Miroljub Labus
As of today, Serbia-Montenegrin companies can export sugar to the 25 EU member states under preferential arrangements, Labus told the Tanjug news agency, but stressed that the EU has warned its members to double check documents verifying the origin of goods imported from Serbia-Montenegro.
The European Commission will continue to monitor the efficiency of the state union’s customs service, the Deputy Prime Minister said, noting that the European Commission is particularly displeased with the efficiency of the Montenegrin customs service.
EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten has called on local courts and authorities to find the culprits of illegal sugar exports, Labus went on to say, adding that Serbia-Montenegro must not miss the chance to increase its sugar exports and improve the efficiency of its customs service.
He also warned that Brussels might change its decision if the state fails to establish the exact number of false sugar certificates over the next two months.
Free sugar exports are important not only for the state union’s overall exports and production, but also for its efforts to press ahead with privatisation and attract fresh investment, Labus went on to say, stressing that Serbia-Montenegro’s sugar surplus and production could allow the state union to boost its sugar exports by some $100 million.
The European Commission suspended the preferential treatment in May 2003 after the so-called “sugar affair” and requested that the state union pinpoint the culprits and improve its customs system.
The European Commission will continue to monitor the efficiency of the state union’s customs service, the Deputy Prime Minister said, noting that the European Commission is particularly displeased with the efficiency of the Montenegrin customs service.
EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten has called on local courts and authorities to find the culprits of illegal sugar exports, Labus went on to say, adding that Serbia-Montenegro must not miss the chance to increase its sugar exports and improve the efficiency of its customs service.
He also warned that Brussels might change its decision if the state fails to establish the exact number of false sugar certificates over the next two months.
Free sugar exports are important not only for the state union’s overall exports and production, but also for its efforts to press ahead with privatisation and attract fresh investment, Labus went on to say, stressing that Serbia-Montenegro’s sugar surplus and production could allow the state union to boost its sugar exports by some $100 million.
The European Commission suspended the preferential treatment in May 2003 after the so-called “sugar affair” and requested that the state union pinpoint the culprits and improve its customs system.
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