Farm ministers divided over tobacco subsidies
At the Agriculture Council meeting on 18 February 2002, the EU agriculture ministers held an orientation debate on the phasing out of subsidies to tobacco producers and on possible new tasks for the Community Tobacco Fund. During the meeting, wide divergences in opinion became apparent between the ministers from the tobacco-producing countries (Austria, Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Portugal) and the other member states.
At the Agriculture Council meeting on 18 February 2002, the EU agriculture ministers held an orientation debate on the phasing out of subsidies to tobacco producers and on possible new tasks for the Community Tobacco Fund. During the meeting, wide divergences in opinion became apparent between the ministers from the tobacco-producing countries (Austria, Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Portugal) and the other member states.
