The European Parliament adopted, by 379 votes to 244 with 14 abstentions, a resolution amending the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards the transfer of tobacco aid to the Community Tobacco Fund for the years 2008 and 2009 and Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 with regard to financing of the Community Tobacco Fund. The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Sergio BERLATO (UEN, IT) on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
A new recital points out that, bearing in mind the many reforms introduced since 2004, particularly in the fruit and vegetable sector, producers of raw tobacco should not be discriminated against in relation to other European farmers. Parliament proposes transferring an amount equal to 6% of the tobacco aid granted for the calendar years 2009 to 2012 to the Community Tobacco Fund. Article 110j (Scope of application) is amended to state that for the harvest years up until 2012, aid may be granted to farmers producing raw tobacco falling within CN code 2401, under the conditions laid down in the Chapter.
The title of the proposal has been changed to Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards the transfer of tobacco aid to the Community Tobacco Fund for the period 2009-2012 (rather than 2008 and 2009) and Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 with regard to financing of the Community Tobacco Fund.