Brussels, 09/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The "Comitato per la difesa del tabacco" states its support in a press release to Sergio Berlato (Alleanz nazionale), EP Rapporteur on the Commission's proposal of last November aimed at "radical changes" being made to the common market organisation for tobacco. This "unfortunate initiative" would bring about the loss of 500,000 jobs, of which 130,000 would be in Italy, the press release notes, mainly stating that Mr Berlato does not (like the Commission) propose total uncoupling of aid from production but rather partial uncoupling of 15%. Other differences between the Commission and the EP rapporteur are also underlined in the press release. They are that the Commission wants aid to the tobacco sector to stop two years after entry into force of the amended CMO, whereas Mr Berlato calls for the duration to be "equivalent" to that of all the other products covered by CAP.