WRITTEN QUESTION E-1838/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 June 2001)

Subject: Abolition of aid to the tobacco sector

In connection with the Commission's proposal on the advertising of tobacco products and the views on sustainable development presented at the Gothenburg Summit, the Commission has recently drawn up proposals to abolish aid to tobacco-growing as part of its anti-smoking campaign. The proposal to abolish aid, which in any case is not accompanied by any measures whatever to reduce tobacco imports, does not address the harmful effects of smoking and will only result in the economic and social collapse of entire regions which are among the most disadvantaged in the European Union and where tobacco-growing is now the only possibility.

In view of the fact that the Commission is required under the current regulation to submit a report on the tobacco sector by 1 April 2002, will it say:

1. on which data and studies it based its decision to propose the abolition of aid to tobacco,

2. whether a study has been carried out into the impact of abolishing European tobacco farming on the problem of smoking, and

3. if it is in fact interested in reducing the consumption of tobacco in the EU, why its proposals do not focus solely on restricting imports of tobacco (70 % of the tobacco used by EU manufacturers is imported from the USA and other countries) and thereby avoid creating an insurmountable economic and social problem in the most disadvantaged regions of the EU?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

On 15 May 2001 the Commission adopted a communication entitled A Sustainable Europe for a Better World: A European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development(1) in the run-up to the European Council in Gothenburg on 15 and 16 June 2001.

Among the public-health measures proposed, the document lists the phasing-out of tobacco subsidies following on from the review, to be completed in 2002, of the common organisation of the market (COM) in tobacco.

The effect on human health of tobacco consumption, the principal avoidable cause of mortality and disease in the EU, justifies abolishing the aid. Over 500 000 deaths a year are blamed on smoking.

Subsidies for tobacco growing therefore conflict with Article 152 (ex Article 129) of the EC Treaty, which states that A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities. The Commission accordingly felt it was not necessary to undertake studies on the impact that the discontinuation of tobacco production might have on consumption of tobacco products.

Recently, however, the Commission did publish a call for tenders for an evaluation study to assess the repercussions of Community regulations on the tobacco sector under the systematic assessment of agricultural measures. The evaluation will seek to determine inter alia how effective, consistent, relevant and useful such measures are and will make a contribution to a review of the market organisation for raw tobacco by allowing us to take overall stock of the regime.

At all events, the Commission communication states that the phasing-out of tobacco subsidies must go hand-in-hand with measures to develop alternative sources of income and economic activity for tobacco workers and growers.

The Commission will seek to ensure that the vitality of the economic and social fabric of tobacco-growing areas is safeguarded.

As to the Honourable Member's suggestion on restricting imports of raw tobacco, any curb on imports would call for the introduction of a system of tariff quotas or other restrictive measures that would not be compatible with the Community's commitments within the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

(1) COM(2001) 264 final.