COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2024/2703

of 10 October 2024

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the International Sugar Council as regards the extension of the International Sugar Agreement, 1992

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The International Sugar Agreement, 1992 (1) (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 92/580/EEC (2) and entered into force on 1 January 1993. The Agreement was concluded for a period of 3 years until 31 December 1995.

(2) The International Sugar Council (‘ISC’) was set up pursuant to Articles 3 and 8 of the Agreement to adopt certain decisions. Pursuant to Article 45(2) of the Agreement, the ISC may extend the Agreement for successive periods, not exceeding 2 years on each occasion. Since its conclusion, the Agreement has regularly been extended for further periods of 2 years. The Agreement was last extended by decision of the ISC in November 2023 and will remain 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, those dates were further postponed to 30 June 2026 and 1 January 2027, respectively. The validity of the Agreement in its current wording therefore 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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the 65th session of the International Sugar Council shall be to vote in favour of the extension of the International Sugar Agreement, 1992 for a further period of 2 years, from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 10 October 2024.

For the Council

The President

PINTÉR S.

(1)

OJ L 379, 23.12.1992, p. 16

(2) Council Decision 92/580/EEC of 13 November 1992 on the signing and conclusion of the International Sugar Agreement 1992 (

OJ L 379, 23.12.1992, p. 15

, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1992/580/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2703/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)