WRITTEN QUESTION P-3263/01

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 November 2001)

Subject: Community Tobacco Fund

Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98(1) of 20 July 1998 has amended Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92(2) as regards the provisions governing the Community Tobacco Fund. The deduction has been increased to the equivalent of 2 % of the premium, and the scope of the action eligible to be financed by the Fund has been widened.

What activities and projects were financed under the Fund from the entry into force of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 until the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1636/98? What sums were earmarked for that purpose in the budget? Have the budget appropriations been used up? What amounts, if any, have not been spent? Have studies been conducted to determine how raw tobacco producers might be enabled to switch to other crops? What amounts were allocated to those studies, when were the studies carried out, and have the findings been disseminated to the national authorities?

(1) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 23.

(2) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 70.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2001)

The Commission is able to provide the Honourable Member with the following details.

The Community's Tobacco Fund was set up under Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco(1). Between then and the entry into force of Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98 of 20 July 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco(2) the Commission launched two calls for proposals in 1994 and 1996, each covering the two strands of the Fund, namely research and information.

The projects in the research strand were:

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

The Fund financed 18 projects under the information strand following both calls for proposals. These projects were as follows:

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

Regarding the amounts not spent, it should be noted that this is not a real fund with annual levies being paid into an account from which money is drawn to finance the various items. In practice, the Commission launches activities which are then funded from an ad hoc line called the Community Tobacco Fund (B1-175). The appropriations on this line correspond to the estimated real costs to be met in a given budget year. The Commission ensures that the appropriations/expenditure on this line do not exceed the total of levies received.

There have been no studies supported by the Fund into converting producers of raw tobacco towards other crops. However, the results of the research projects will be disseminated in the relevant circles.

With regard to the new activities to be implemented following approval of the new implementing Regulation(3), involving the information strand, the Commission launched a call for tenders on 13 June 2001 concerning a communication campaign aimed at prevention of smoking among adolescents. The Scientific and Technical Committee for the Community Tobacco Fund met on 9 November 2001 to assist the Commission in choosing the best offer.

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(2) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998.

(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1648/2000 of 25 July 2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 with regard to the Community Tobacco Fund and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2427/93 OJ L 189, 27.7.2000.