WRITTEN QUESTION P-3512/01 by Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tobacco.
Date: 2001-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common organisation of markets, health policy, production aid, redevelopment aid, suspension of aid, tobacco industry

C 160 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

(2002/C 160 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3512/01

by Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 December 2001)

Subject: Tobacco

Tobacco growing affects around 600 000 workers in the production and processing sectors in Europe. The
total area under tobacco crops is around 150 000 ha, mainly located in southern Europe. Tobacco growing
is of most benefit to areas where the soil is poor and the climate is unsuitable for other types of crops (in
Italy, in particular, Campania, Puglia, Umbria and Veneto). As a result of these features, there is at present
no financially viable alternative to tobacco growing, especially for small farmers. In small municipalities,
most of the population draw their income from the tobacco-growing sector.

In 1970, in anticipation of the dismantling of the state monopoly arrangements which guaranteed that all
the tobacco produced in Community countries would be purchased, a COM was introduced providing
instead for a system of aid to the production of raw tobacco. Shortly before the revision of the COM in
tobacco, which was due to take place in 2002, the Commission approved by a large majority a document
on sustainable development, which was also approved by the European Parliament and then submitted to
the Council in Göteborg, providing for the phasing out of aid to the tobacco-growing sector as a public
health measure. This latest move is simply an ‘ideologically motivated untruth’ since smoking would
continue at the same rate in the European Union, the only difference being that 20 % of the tobacco
currently grown in the UE would be imported to the detriment of the trade balance and phyto-sanitary
checks on the tobacco products. The abolition of the aid, which currently accounts for around 80 % of
farmers’
incomes, would result in the abandonment of tobacco growing, which would no longer be
profitable, and hence the abandonment of the land.

What alternative farming possibilities, or at least job opportunities, has the Commission found or planned
for tobacco growers who will be forced to abandon this activity and will see their family income drastically
reduced, if not completely wiped out?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2002)

On 21 November 2001 the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Regulation fixing the premiums
and guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by variety group and Member State for the 2002, 2003 and
2004 harvests and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92.

The proposal is consistent with Commission policy on the future of tobacco production aid as formulated
in the communication on a European Union strategy for sustainable development, particularly regarding
the need to phase out tobacco subsidies while putting in place measures to develop alternative sources of
income and economic activity for tobacco workers and growers.

The Commission’s decision is justified by concern for agricultural policy to be consistent with Article 152
(ex Article 129) of the EC Treaty, which stipulates that ‘a high level of human health protection shall be
ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities’, leaving aside the
question of whether there is a link between tobacco production aid and the consumption of tobacco
products.

The Commission is nevertheless aware of the difficulties which converting raw tobacco production could
cause, particularly in certain production regions. That is why the proposal > as well as guaranteeing
support to producers for the next three years > amends a number of common market organisation
mechanisms such as the tobacco fund, which has been recast to permit the financing inter alia of feasibility
studies on retraining raw tobacco producers for other crops or economic activity and of initial specific
conversion measures in production regions. Experience gained under the rural development programmes
makes a key contribution in that regard.

4.7.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/129

The Commission also intends to develop tobacco fund conversion measures in combination with the quota
buyback programme, thereby creating powerful synergies between the two.

Further new proposals on the sector will be preceded by a study evaluating the common organisation of
the market. The Commission intends to proceed in a resolute but gradual manner so as to safeguard the
production regions’ economic and social vitality.

(2002/C 160 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3515/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)
and Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Exclusion of official languages from the LIFE programme

According to an article published in English on 16 November 2001 on the internet website
www.medeuropa.net and in Spanish on 8 November 2001 at www.aquieuropa.com, the Commission
requires anyone wishing to submit proposals under the Community’s LIFE programme to communicate
with it henceforth in writing in English and French only. This policy is totally contrary to the rules
applying hitherto under which the 11 official languages of the Union were used for communication within
the LIFE programme and the other Community initiatives.

Is there a requirement that only two of these languages should be used for LIFE and, if so, why? To what
extent is this requirement consistent with the provisions of the EC Treaty concerning the parity of all its
official languages (Articles 290 and 314) and with the constant references to the multicultural nature of the
Union?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2002)

The Commission does not require that those wishing to submit proposals under the Community’s LIFE
programme do so only in English or French.

All the information concerning the submission of proposals under the Community’s LIFE programme is
available in the 11 official
languages at the following Internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/
life3.htm.

(2002/C 160 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3517/01

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Italian State aid to shipping

The Member States take financial and fiscal measures to support their national fleets. In 1997, the
Commission issued guidelines for judging the compatibility of national aid schemes for shipping with
Community law. The aim of the guidelines is to achieve convergence in the Member States’ policies and to
avoid distortion of competition within the Community.