
Sole Article 
The request by Burkina Faso to accede to Protocol 3 on ACP sugar to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement is not accepted.
The attached letter shall be sent to Burkina Faso.
Done at Luxembourg, 28 June 2004.
For the Council
The President
M. CULLEN
ANNEX

Brussels,
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to refer to your letter dated 8 November 2000 requesting accession to the Protocol on ACP sugar. In conformity with the Joint Declaration annexed to the Protocol on ACP sugar the European Community has examined your request and has come to the conclusion that Burkina Faso is at present not in a position to fulfil on a permanent basis the obligations of the Protocol. In previous cases, the capacity to fulfil these obligations was defined by the fact that the country in question was a net exporter of sugar.
I regret therefore that the Community cannot accept Burkina Faso's request to join the Sugar Protocol.
A copy of this letter is sent to the Secretary General of the ACP States.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.
On behalf of the Council of the European Union
