Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent of sugar beet production within the EU at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27513/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to the introduction of the temporary scheme for the restructuring of the sugar industry in the Community, sugar beet was grown for sugar processing in all but four Member States, namely Cyprus, Estonia, Luxembourg, and Malta.

In the first two years of the restructuring scheme, which involves quota renunciation and closure of the associated processing facilities, restructuring applications were submitted in 12 Member States. Details of these applications are given, by Member State, in the table below.

Recently the Council of Ministers adopted a regulation making the restructuring scheme more attractive with a view to reducing the EU sugar quota by a further 3.8m tonnes. The effect that this will have on sugar beet production in individual Member States remains to be seen.