Did the EU make a fool’s bargain with the tobacco industry? – Part 1
Since 2004 the EU and the member states have signed controversial billion dollar agreements with the four main tobacco companies. The aim was to fight the illicit trade in cigarettes and court charges have been dropped in return for money. But smuggling has continued and this causes losses in tax and duties which vastly exceed the amounts paid by the companies.
Usually, Monday discussions in Strasbourg are quite calm. Lawmakers are coming from all over Europe after a long trip and basically everybody tries to smooth start the plenary week.
But this time it was different.
The issue concerned the tobacco industry. And it was probably not the best Monday for EU Budget Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.
During the debate, held on May 18, about the agreements that the EU and some member states have signed with the tobacco industry, the outspoken French parliamentarian, José Bové, accused Brussels to work with “fraudsters and gangsters” when fighting illicit trade.
