Farmers protest EU sugar proposals

PARIS, July 18 (UPI) -- Thousands of European farmers protested in Brussels Monday against proposals to overhaul EU sugar subsidies.

A proposal by the European Commission would slice guaranteed sugar prices for growers within the European Union by 39 percent.

The proposal follows a challenge filed at the World Trade Organization by Brazil and a number of other countries, which complained EU price supports for sugar were unlawful and unfair.

Farmers and advocacy groups argue the changes would wipe out European sugar producers, and that thousands of jobs would be lost.