Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-14-Speech-4-021"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20020314.2.4-021"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, as Mr Cunha quite rightly said, this report is an extremely political document, despite the fact that it appears to be technical.
It raises the key question as to whether we should continue to subsidise the cultivation of a plant, the main use of which is in the manufacture of a product recognised as being extremely harmful to human health. Tobacco, I am sorry to say, is a hard drug, and we must have the courage to say this.
The problem dates back a long way and the Commission is using this proposal for updating the regulation to clearly say that we must move away from the system of tobacco subsidies. However, as we must give farmers the time to change activity, the debate initially focuses on the time they are given to do this. And Mr Cunha’s proposal was, from that point of view, very reasonable. It is natural to allow them time – but not too much time – for the planned assessment. The Greens believe that the current situation must be tackled now, whether or not we are continually told that these are poor farmers. As far as I know, Alsace and Andalucia are, in terms of farming, fairly prosperous regions. The question is to determine whether, at this point, we must subsidise, in other countries, growing dangerous products such as cannabis, for example. And we must, at this point, have the courage to say so.
There are two points to the second question which is that of the Community Tobacco Fund. The first point is the level of the deduction to be introduced as of 2004; the second is the tasks given to researchers who are funded in this way. We believe that an increase from 3% to 5% for this Fund is a positive step; in this area, the Commission’s proposal has very wisely used the carrot and stick approach in order to refocus these tasks over the long term and to replace agronomic research into making tobacco slightly less harmful with measures to support specific initiatives that encourage tobacco growers to switch from tobacco into other crops.
We must not forget, however, that products other than the cigarette can be produced from tobacco. It can be an aid to medical research, for example. It is also an excellent natural insecticide. But these are specialist niches, and there is a great deal too much cultivated tobacco for these uses.
The Greens will not, therefore, vote in favour of the amendments which have undermined Mr Cunha’s patient work. Instead, we will support the Commission in this area."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples