The European Union has not stopped the sugar assistance to be provided for this year.

A total of $6.05M will be channeled through the European Union Commitments for Sugar Reform.

Responding to questions by Village News, the EU Media Consultant Debbie Singh stated that $4.2M is going to be channeled through the Sugar Cane Growers Fund for the provision of sugar cane planting seed and land preparation.

Contrary to certain media reports about no funding being released for 2007, Singh added that 60% of the $4.2M could be released within the next two months through a grant agreement, for the current planting season.

$1.6M is going to research activities, through the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji.

$1.05M is going to extension services, again through the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji and $880,000 is going to the Project Management Unit under the Sugar Commission that will assist the project with technical assistance, both international and local.

Meanwhile, Village News has also received confirmation from the European Commission that no official statement has been released by the EU about Fiji not receiving any assistance in 2007.

It has also been confirmed that the EU has not informed the interim government of any such decision.

In its last EU meeting where Fiji was also on the agenda, it was agreed that the Union will monitor the commitments made by the interim government, its fulfillment and the EU grants will be released in phases.