Brussels, 11/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 10 December, the Council of the EU adopted conclusions on the fight against cigarette smuggling and the illegal trade of tobacco products - on the basis of a European Commission communication and a specific action plan. Cigarette smuggling represents a loss of approximately €10 billion per year for the member states' budgets. In its conclusions, the Council asks the Commission and member states to strengthen their cooperation with the relevant European offices and agencies - like OLAF, TaxSud, Europol and Eurojust - and to agree on joint targeted action. The Council conclusions also ask the member states to develop dissuasive sanctions that are effective. The Commission must become involved in working more closely with the main supplier or transit countries, and must organise meetings between the member states and actors concerned by the issue. It must also assess the action plan, on which is must provide a report in 2017. (SP/transl.fl)