European Parliament
Stihler (PSE ).
Mr President, I disagree with the last two speakers. Backing this report is a very sad day for this House. I would like to focus my remarks on tobacco. I believe the Commission's reform package is fair. The proposed schemes remove direct support for a product that is the biggest cause of preventable illness and disease across the EU. Half a million EU citizens die each year because of tobacco-related illness and disease – that is a million throughout Europe.
EU citizens find it deeply offensive that nearly EUR 1000 million a year go to funding a crop that nobody would buy if it were not subsidised; a crop that does nothing but harm its consumers. Today's approval of the Daul report does nothing for European citizens' health. It is a disappointing day for this Parliament and I am glad that 215 Members voted against this report and against tobacco subsidies.

