EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/531

(2004/C 84 E/0608)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0094/04

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(16 January 2004)

Subject: Reform of the COM in tobacco

On 18 November 2003 the Commission adopted a series of legislative proposals aimed at reforming the COM in tobacco. The proposals entail dismantling the current COM and gradually eliminating any kind of aid to tobacco production in Europe.

Since the elimination of aid will herald the end of tobacco production in Europe and thus the processing industry will have no option but to obtain supplies from abroad, can the Commission say whether it considers that:

— the socio-economic problems caused in some areas of the European Union by the progressive abandonment of this crop will be counterbalanced by tangible benefits in terms of combating smoking;

— it is illogical to eliminate tobacco production in Europe whilst failing to make provision for any form of protection for imports of tobacco from abroad;

— there is any point in eliminating tobacco production in Europe when the consumption of the product continues to be lawful and there is strong demand on the market?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2004)

The proposal for a reform of the raw tobacco sector does not have as its aim to eliminate production of tobacco in the Union as mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The aim of the reform is to replace the product specific support to raw tobacco by an income support to producers as was the case for all the products in the June 2003 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. The majority of the raw tobacco producers will continue to receive the same support as they received in the reference period without being bound to produce tobacco, but it will still be legal to produce tobacco if the producers want to do so.

The global budget for the tobacco sector will remain the same, and the part which is not paid to the producers as coupled or decoupled payments will be transferred to a financial envelope which will be used in the Member States where the funds contributing to the envelope are collected. The funds in the envelope will be administered according to the rural development legislation and will, through contributing to improvements on the infrastructure in the tobacco producing regions and by supporting producers who want to shift to other products or to other economic activities, tackle possible socioeconomic problems in the tobacco growing regions.

As the Commission is not banning tobacco production, import of such products will still be legal and the Commission is not taking any actions against such imports.

On the question of combating smoking, it can be said that, while the replacement of product related subsidies may not directly influence the short term prevalence of smoking, as was the finding of the Commission Extended Impact Assessment report, it is clear that better coherence with public health policies is essential to maintain the confidence and trust of EU citizens, and the Commission will continue its campaigns on improving the public awareness of the harmful effects of all forms of tobacco consumption.