EU sugar deal sweetens life in poor nations

SUGAR beet growers are enjoying fine weather conditions for harvesting, but there’s a storm brewing in the background, as the reform of the EU’s sugar subsidy regime gets under way.

At worst, the reform could greatly reduce Ireland’s sugar industry. A lot of jobs at Carlow and Mallow could be lost, and a lot of people, including farmers, would be looking for compensation from Brussels, if the subsidies their livelihoods depend on are pulled.

There’s backing in Brussels for the reform of the costly sugar regime, because the sugar bill could shoot up 15% when 10 more member states join from eastern Europe and the Mediterranean next May.