The Agriculture Council held an exchange of views on the reform concerning the tobacco sector on 17 November 2003.
The discussion follows the Council’s June 2003 decision regarding the 2003 CAP reform proposal and the Commission’s Communication (“Accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed CAP – the tobacco, olive oil, cotton and sugar sectors”) of 23 September 2003.
The EU’s tobacco regime has come under heavy criticism for subsidising tobacco growers whilst paying out millions of euros to promote anti-smoking campaigns.
The CAP funding for the tobacco sector amounts to roughly 1 billion euro – distributed mainly among Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Tobacco production is typically concentrated in regions lagging behind in their economic development.
The agriculture ministers of the five main beneficiaries of EU tobacco support have sent a letter to EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler warning him that the Commission’s plans to reform the tobacco sector would result in massive land abandonment and loss of jobs.
Hundreds of angry tobacco growers gathered in front of the Council building on 17 November 2003 as agriculture ministers were discussing the proposed reforms.
Protesters argued that even if the tobacco industry in the EU disappears it would not resolve the public health issue. It would only mean that people would obtain their supply from other places in the world.