Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-02-05-Speech-2-056"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-02-05"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Structure and rates of excise duty applied on manufactured tobacco2
dcterms:Language	"el"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20020205.4.2-056"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-02-05-Speech-2-0572
lpv:speaker	lp:Efstratios Korakas2
lpv:spokenAs	member_of_the_bureau; EUL/NGL (1999-10-13--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Kommounistiko Komma Elladas (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, there is no doubt that cigarettes seriously damage your health. However, it is hypocrisy on the part of the Commission to maintain that it is helping to protect public health by introducing more taxes on tobacco products, which are a widely consumed product, when it leaves consumers at the mercy of very dangerous products in the food chain, imported tobacco products of dubious quality, and is pushing for health to be completely privatised. One thing is for sure: increasing taxes – and hence the price to the consumer – will not reduce smoking. Otherwise it would surely have happened by now. What will happen if taxes are increased is that consumers on lower incomes will be forced to buy cheaper contraband cigarettes from third countries which are possibly even more damaging to their health. In other words, smuggling will increase, not decrease, as the Commission maintains. The proposed measures will increase the cost of living at a time when consumers' wages are constantly being eroded by the policy of the European Union. The campaign against smoking and the campaign against tobacco cultivation in the European Union have become one and the same and we are against that. The campaign against smoking benefits consumers' health, while the campaign against tobacco cultivation benefits large-scale producers and industry, mainly in the USA, to the detriment of tobacco farmers and processors in southern Europe. That is precisely why we are against abolishing or even reducing tobacco-farming subsidies, as many would have us do. That would wipe out tobacco farming in the European Union, which would then be wholly dependent on imported cigarettes. These are just some of the reasons why we are against any form of additional excise because, as I have already said, it does nothing to protect public health; in fact, it may well have the opposite effect. Finally, we suggest that revenue from tobacco taxes should be used to fund education, preventive measures and centres where smokers can kick the habit and obtain treatment."@en1

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