Raw tobacco: common organisation of the market CMO (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92)

PURPOSE : to set the deduction from the 2004 harvest premium to finance the Community Tobacco Fund. PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation. CONTENT : the purpose of this proposal for a Council Regulation is to set the deduction from the 2004 harvest premium to finance the Community Tobacco Fund. This measure is being proposed transitionally pending entry into force of the reform of the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco. Under these circumstances, the level chosen is the same as that set for the 2003 harvest - i.e. a premium deduction of 3%. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS : - Budget line : 05 02 1002 and 17 03 02; - Appropriations : EUR 28.8 million. The Community Tobacco Fund is financed by a deduction from the premium paid to producers. This measure does not therefore entail any additional expenditure for the budget. For the 2004 harvest, i.e. the 2005 financial year, it is proposed to set the deduction at the same level as for the 2003 harvest, i.e. 3%. This represents an estimated EUR 28.8 million for the 15 existing Member States. If tobacco-producing countries among the new Member States do not apply the simplified system for the payment of direct aid (SAPS), that amount could increase by EUR 4.4 million.�