Khartoum — African Caribbean and Pacific countries want the EU to delay its plans to slash its preferential prices on sugar from the region.

The summit wants a delay of four years.

The Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa countries secretary general Erastus Mwencha said the EU should first help countries which will be affected to stop over-reliance on sugar.

Speaking after a session at the 84th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers meeting in Khartoum yesterday ahead of 5th Summit of ACP Heads of State which starts in the capital today, Mr Mwencha said countries like Kenya and Mauritius will be adversely affected if the EU implemented the plans as scheduled.

"The EU should first support farmers to move away from sugar. It should support the countries financially," Mr Mwencha said.

Mr Mwencha was accompanied by Planning minister Henry Obwocha, permanent secretary Sambili and Kenya's ambassador to Sudan Elijah Matibo.

Mr Mwencha said ACP countries Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU might not be completed on time because of delays by the latter to act on ACP submissions.

"The EU has not come forward with much speed and capacity to act on demands we have put on table," he said at Khartoum's Friendship Hall, where the meeting bringing together representatives from 79 ACP countries is being held.

ACP countries, he said, also wanted the EU to give them more resources for development.

Mr Obwocha said Kenya wanted ACP countries to discuss and agree on sugar export quotas to the EU as a group.

Mr Obwocha who is leading Kenyan delegation to the talks added that some countries had expressed objection to the current quota system during yesterday's session.

"What Kenya is saying is that we should get together as ACP Group and agree so that we can be able to bargain as a group," the minister said.

Mumias is one of the companies that exports sugar to the EU. Its allocation stands at 5000 tonnes.

On Sudan being allowed to supply huge amounts of sugar to the EU unlike other African countries, Mr Obwocha said the country deserved as it had biggest sugar factory in Africa and was largest country in the continent.

Mr Obwocha further called for speedy disrbursement of money given by donors in support of the cotton sector.

Mr Obwocha said the government had set aside Sh250 million in this year's budget to boost the sector but "we are not getting the required assistance." "The funds should be disbursed as soon as possible," Mr Obwocha said.