[Intl-tobacco] Italy Said to Back Plan to Sue U.S. Tobacco Firms (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Italy Said to Back Plan to Sue U.S. Tobacco Firms
Source: Reuters, Saturday, 7/29/00

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Finance Minister Ottaviano Del Turco threw his
weight behind a European Commission plan to sue a number of U.S. tobacco
companies over alleged cigarette smuggling into the EU, the daily la
Repubblica reported on Saturday.

But Del Turco told the newspaper Italy would take legal action only
together with other EU countries. No one could be reached for comment at
the Italian finance ministry.

``We will be on the front line, but not alone,'' Del Turco was quoted as
saying, adding Italy was ready to act ``even legally to safeguard the
national interest together with countries who want to make the same
commitment.''

The European Union's executive commission said on Thursday it planned to
sue the tobacco companies in U.S. courts but did not say where or when the
alleged smuggling had taken place or give brands, company names or
figures.

The commission said cigarette smuggling was the biggest single fraud
against the $95 billion EU budget. It said tonnes of branded cigarettes
were smuggled into the 15-nation bloc, costing billions of dollars over
years in lost revenues.