Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-14-Speech-4-027"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-03-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Leaf tobacco (2002, 2003 and 2004)2
dcterms:Language	"el"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20020314.2.4-027"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-03-14-Speech-4-0282
lpv:speaker	lp:Ioannis Patakis2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 member; EUL/NGL (2001-01-30--2004-07-19)3 member; ECON (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Kommounistiko Komma Elladas (2001-01-30--2004-07-19)3 substitute; AGRI (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Temporary committee on foot and mouth disease (2002-01-17--2002-12-17)3
lpv:translated text	"Madam President, we should like to express our opposition to any attempt to abolish or gradually reduce aid to tobacco, as proposed by the Commission, because it will wipe out tobacco production in Europe. We disagree with any proposal which is based on the premise of abandoning tobacco production and tries to gild the pill by allegedly seeking alternative forms of employment and income for producers. We all know full well that tobacco is grown in disadvantaged areas in the south, mainly barren mountainous areas, and that it is a crop traditionally grown on holdings on which nothing else will grow. It is the sole source of income and means of survival for people living in these areas, for whom there are no alternative forms of employment. It is infuriating that proposals such as this are being made at a time when smoking is on the increase and 70% of the tobacco used is imported. Consequently, any reduction in tobacco growing in the Community will wipe out thousands of small and medium-sized holdings and increase imports and merely serves the predatory interests of the huge tobacco industry and distribution monopolies, at the expense of producers and consumers alike. The only thing we should be reducing are imports, not the income of European farmers, and every suitable measure should be taken in order to do so. Any other proposal is anything from hypocritical to highly suspicious and a smoke-screen for unlawful interests. As far as the Cunha report is concerned, it contains a number of good points, but it too accepts the objective, albeit with reservations, of reducing tobacco growing in the Community, perhaps over a longer period of time. This is clearly illustrated, for example, in Amendments Nos 7 and 12, calling for tobacco growers to be encouraged to switch into other crops, which is why we shall be voting against it."@en1

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