We will meet here again in May to discuss the report of Ms de Brún, in which, I am convinced, examples of local empowerment, in particular through the voluntary sector and non-governmental organisations, will be strongly present.

Finally, to Mrs de Brún, who has now left this House, I would say that if she wants to prevent an Irish Ferries-style race to the bottom in the services area, then she should, as an obligation, vote for the amendments that she will be offered here tomorrow, as a first step – not as the only step, but as a first step – to prevent what she fears.

Finally, to Mrs de Brún, who has now left this House, I would say that if she wants to prevent an Irish Ferries-style race to the bottom in the services area, then she should, as an obligation, vote for the amendments that she will be offered here tomorrow, as a first step – not as the only step, but as a first step – to prevent what she fears.

Hon. Andy Mitchell (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the longhorn beetle is a very destructive pest that puts in danger forests in the areas that it infests.

Mr. John Williams: It's the brown area.

Your rapporteur considers that this proposal is excessive and should be revised for two reasons: firstly, it must be remembered that the figures for Portugal are inaccurate, as the Commission itself has acknowledged, and must therefore be corrected; secondly, although it is acceptable to reduce the thresholds for the varieties without real market outlets (Group V – sun-cured tobacco) or for which demand continues to fall (Group III – dark air-cured tobacco), it is unacceptable to reduce them for the variety groups such as I or II, for which demand and prices are higher (EUR 0.66/ kg and 0.419/kg respectively), which therefore are more attractive to producers, as shown by the gradual switch to them in the ...[+++]sector. Finally, they are the varieties towards which the future conversion of production must be geared, which the new Community Tobacco Fund is supposed to support.