23/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - A dozen cigar manufacturer have formed, in Bonn, a joint association, the "Cigar Coalition Europe" or CCE, to represent their interests with the European institutions. The association will represent the companies Badische Tabakmanufactur Roth-Handle, Brinkmann Niemeyer, Brinkmann Tabakfabrike, El Mundo del Tabaco, Imperial Tabacco Agio, Liberty Cigar Company, Stanwell Vertriebs and Villiger Sohn. The coalition of cigar manufacturers immediately published a press releases to protest against a proposal from the Commission that modifies the definition of industrially produced cigars and cigarillos in order to submit them to the same tax system as cigarettes. The Commission intends to impose de facto an embargo on the sale of modern cigarillos, which belong to the cigar family, feels the Cigar Coalition Europe.