# CE2004078EN.01086901.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/869 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/869

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(2004/C 78 E/0922)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3875/03

by Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject:   Reform of the COM in tobacco

Subject:

The contents of Commission communication (1) were — despite the extreme sensitivity of the problems examined — substantially controversial, as well as being incomplete, with respect to the analysis offered of the consequences for the EU's tobacco-producing areas.

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Besides, the Commission has published the relevant data and documents — whether produced by its own services or commissioned from outside — inexplicably late in the day (see, for example, the assessment of the COM in tobacco by COGEA). The speed-up of the timetable for the ‘reform’ of the COM in tobacco has made it impossible for the producers to examine and debate the COGEA report in sufficient detail, while the report's numerous annexes have still not been made availabnle.

When does the Commission intend to publish this information?

It is known that, for the report, the Commission asked the University of Parma to prepare analyses of the potential impact on the EU regions mainly concerned of the different options set out in the proposal for the reform of the COM in raw tobacco. Our Greek colleagues have refered to a similar approach made to the University of Thessaloniki; we are not aware of cases in other producer Member States.

Can the Commission state whether the documents relating to the above-mentioned analyses were ever actually produced? If so, can it state whether it will itself publish them in good time, in accordance with the legislative timetable for the proposal for reform of the COM in tobacco now under discussion?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2004)

(27 January 2004)

The Commission has published the different analyses on the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for tobacco as soon as they were ready for publication and the COGEA report (evaluation report on tobacco production in the Union) which is specifically mentioned was made public on the Commission's website as soon as it was approved by the Commission on the 8 October 2003.

The Annexes to the COGEA report have not been made public on the website, because Annexes to reports on the internet are normally not published, but they are always available on request.

The Commission has recently requested the University of Parma and the University of Thessalonica to carry out an assessment of the effects of the proposal from the Commission. The two universities mentioned have been chosen because it seems that these universities are the only ones in the Union who have the capacity to make such assessments.

The Commission has, in the drafting process discussed the different aspects of the reform of the CMO for tobacco with both Member States authorities, and the different parties involved in the tobacco sector, including representatives from the administrations of the regions concerned.

A copy of the COGEA report including the Annexes is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's secretariat.

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(1)  COM(2003) 554, 23 September 2003.

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