A group of countries led by Italy is seeking to reopen portions of the Common Agricultural Policy reform agreed in June to obtain more subsidies for tobacco growers, the Financial Mirror reported.

Citing comments by Italian Agriculture Minister Nunzia De Girolamo to reporters on the sidelines of a 23 Sept meeting of European Union farm ministers, the Financial Mirror said a joint declaration seeking more subsidies for tobacco farmers was also signed by France, Spain, Greece, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia.
In June ministers agreed that up to 15 per cent of direct subsidies could be linked to output levels, but only for agricultural products such as cereals, livestock and dairy, according to the story on the Financial Mirror website. A source reportedly told the Mirror it was unlikely the appeal to include tobacco growers would be successful. CAP talks cover payments from 2014 to 2020.
A statement from the Lithuanian Presidency following the EU Agricultural Council meeting says: “Member state ministers agreed not to reopen political discussions on elements of the CAP reform but gave some clear guidance for further negotiations on such important open issues like degressivity of direct payments.” The Presidency statement said it hoped a conciliation session on 24 Sept would resolve all issues and clear the way for a final vote by the agriculture committee of the European Parliament.