WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2072/96 by Franz LINSER to the Commission. Export refunds for Greek tobacco
Date: 1996-07-26
Institutions: European Parliament, LINSER
Subjects: Bulgaria, EU financing, Greece, Türkiye, ethnic group, export refund, export subsidy, protection of minorities, restriction on competition, tobacco













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91996E2072

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2072/96 by Franz LINSER to the Commission. Export refunds for Greek tobacco  


Official Journal C 385 , 19/12/1996 P. 0091 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2072/96 by Franz Linser (NI) to the Commission (26 July 1996)Subject: Export refunds for Greek tobaccoA large proportion of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria has for decades depended on tobacco-growing for a living. However, as a result of the EU export subsidy policy for Greek tobacco, returns to these growers have declined so much in recent years that a whole sector of the agricultural industry, which survived even the collectivization attempts of previous regimes and has had a decisive influence on the traditional way of life of Bulgarian Turks, must now be said to be facing ruin. About 25 000 (of a total of 80 500) Turkish families in this sector have already lost their livelihood. (See Mittel- und Osteuropa auf dem Weg in die Europäische Union [Central and eastern Europe on the road to the European Union], report on the state of integration, pub. Werner Weidenfeld, Strategies for Europe series.)What funds has the Commission spent on export subsidies for Greek tobacco since 1990?What funds have been paid for exports of tobacco to Bulgaria and traditional Bulgarian export markets?When does the Commission propose to end these subsidies, which distort competition and are anti-social in their effect, and not only issue declarations on the need to support minorities but also practise such support itself?>TABLE>* Tobacco exported and eligible for subsidy in 1994, the refunds being recorded in the accounts of the 1995 budget year.Note that the Community budget nomenclature is not detailed enough to allow identification of the destination of subsidized tobacco exports.To conclude, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the 1992 reform of the common market organization for tobacco abolished export refunds for this product. Only tobacco harvested before the reform was eligible for subsidy after 1992 and this concession remained open until the end of 1994. Since that date, no tobacco has been eligible for export subsidies.Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (3 October 1996)Of course the commitment to free movement of citizens within the European Union applies to blind people. The restriction of movement in this case is not to the blind person per se but rather to the accompanying guide dog which is currently subject to British rabies quarantine regulations.A number of initiatives have already been taken including Community funding of a rabies eradication scheme, which is progressing satisfactorily and an alternative system to quarantine has been agreed for entry of traded dogs and cats into the United Kingdom. The Commission is committed to making suitable proposals for accompanied dogs and cats at an appropriate time.