Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament^f1,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee^f2,

Whereas:

Titles I and II of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92^f3 establish a premium as well as a production limitation system for tobacco production.

Article 152 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003^f4, which has established common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and certain support schemes for farmers, provides for the deletion of Titles I and II of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 as of 1 January 2005 but specifies that they shall continue to apply in respect of the 2005 harvest. The premium and production limitation schemes provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 expire as from the end of the 2005 harvest.

Consequently a number of Articles of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 become obsolete and should be deleted for reasons of legal clarity and transparency.

It is therefore necessary to amend Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: