§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what area of land is used to grow tobacco in each EU(a) member state and (b) accession country; how much subsidy was given for tobacco growing in each EU member state in 2003–04; and how much will be given to each EU member state in 2004–05. [167068]
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§ Alun MichaelThe area of land used to grow tobacco in the producer member states and in new member states is:
2002(1,00ha) Member states Area of land EU15: Belgium 0.381 Germany 4.789 Greece 154.77 Spain 11.5 France 8.901 Italy 37.676 Austria 0.116 Portugal 1.901 EU25: Cyprus 10.077 Hungary 5.477 Poland 10.296 Slovak Republic 1.1 Total 136.984 12001 figures Source: Eurostat CRONOS The tobacco premia paid in 2002 (the latest year for which figures are available) is:
Million euro Member states Amount Belgium 3.9 Germany 35.1 Greece 369.0 Spain 115.4 France 80.4 Italy 330.8 Austria 0.9 Portugal 16.3 Total 951.8 Source: Official Journal of the European Union 23/2/04. Payments in 2004–05 will be based on claims for tobacco that has not yet, or only just, been planted. The information requested is therefore not available. However, the EU budget provision for expenditure on tobacco premia in 2004 is 929 million euro.