Greencore to receive €1m windfall from Europe
By Stephen Cadogan
Greencore — Ireland’s former national sugar-processor, and the sugar beet growers who delivered to it — can look forward to a windfall of €933,435, plus 17 years of interest payments, after the European Court of Justice has ruled that sugar production levies were miscalculated by the EU Commission Regulations from 1999 to 2001.
The EU sugar sector regime at the time was based on a quota system, and the cost of disposing of surplus sugar over the production quota allocated was levied fully on producers.
The European Court of Justice also ruled that the method used by the EU Commission to fix the levies was incorrect because it led to an over-estimation of the costs to be covered, which were consequently overcharged to Greencore and the former beet growers.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed revealed the amount repayable in Ireland in the Dáil, replying to a question from Cork East Fianna Fáil TD Kevin O’Keeffe.
“The former sugar processor, Greencore and the sugar beet growers for the years in question will be reimbursed in due course,” said Minister Creed.
