FRENCH TOBACCO GROWERS FAIL TO OVERTURN EU SUBSIDY REFORMS
April 1st, 2009
BY KEITH NUTHALL
FRENCH tobacco growers have failed to overturn as illegal a reform approved in January to European Union (EU) tobacco production subsidies. The Union des coopératives agricoles des producteurs de tabac de France (UCAPT) opposed the EU Council of Ministers' slashing direct support to 50%, saying it would align prices with world markets and abandon tobacco. The reform was therefore illegally "disproportionate" to its aims the union argued at the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The court rejected the union's arguments.
ENDS
FRENCH tobacco growers have failed to overturn as illegal a reform approved in January to European Union (EU) tobacco production subsidies. The Union des coopératives agricoles des producteurs de tabac de France (UCAPT) opposed the EU Council of Ministers' slashing direct support to 50%, saying it would align prices with world markets and abandon tobacco. The reform was therefore illegally "disproportionate" to its aims the union argued at the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The court rejected the union's arguments.
ENDS
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