IMPACTS OF PRODUCTION QUOTAS ABOLITION ON EUROPEAN AND CZECH SUGAR INDUSTRY AND SUGAR BEET GROWING

The Czech sugar industry has been facing the deepest crisis of the last 30 years. This is due to a huge sugar overproduction in the European Union, which has caused prices to fall to their all-time bottom level. Sugar prices in the international market remain low, too, making it impossible to export sugar at satisfactory prices. This difficult situation is made worse by other external factors, such as the strengthening of the Czech crown with respect to the euro, or restrictions on the use of pesticides in sugar beet growing. As a result, European and national sugar producers have been experiencing financial difficulties; once again, it is being decided where in Europe sugar beet is to be grown and sugar produced. An important role in this process will be played by individual Member States' budgets, and the amount of public subsidies to sugar beet growing.