September 11, 2008

Brussels

Location:UmbriaBrussels Office

Rond Point Schuman, 14 - 1040 Brussels, LOGO Room, 8° floor

Results of the Project ASTRA I/06/B/F/PP-154061

(Accomplish Sustainability in Tobacco Reconversion Activities)

Project coordination:

Centro Studi e Formazione Villa Montesca

Italy

Project Coordinator: Fabrizio Boldrini

Information:

UMBRIA Region (Italy)

Rond Point Schuman, 14 - 1040 Bruxelles

Tel. 0032 2 2868574-3-2

Fax 0032 2 2868578

General Framework:

Tobacco production is typically highly labour intensive. It provides many jobs, not only for producers’ families and employees, but also for workers in the processing industry. Both the tobacco cultivation and the tobacco processing activities are concentrated in some European regions for which the impact of the EU Tobacco reform can have an important economic and social impact.

In this framework the project Seminar will present the challenges for tobacco growing regions and the social consequences related to the tobacco sector perspectives, also disseminating some of the ASTRA project results: a new instrument and methodology for the competences analysis of the tobacco professional profiles; the tobacco Community of Practices that allow the European tobacco stakeholders (producers, processors, workers, but also trade unions, agricultural associations, public authorities…) to interact, acquiring new skills and sharing ideas and materials.

Seminar Schedule:

ModeratorJoao DELGADO(EC, Dg EAC, Head of Unit B5 “Educational Training – Leonardo Da Vinci Programme”)

9.30Participants Registration

10.00 Joao DELGADO (EC, Dg EAC, Head of Unit B5 “Educational Training – Leonardo Da Vinci Programme”)

Strategies and opportunities to help workers facing the changes of the job market in the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme

10:20Results of Astra Project

Fabrizio BOLDRINI (President of Centro Studi e Formazione Villa Montesca, Project coordinator)

Introduction into ASTRA Project: main aims and goals

Magdalina APOSTOL (Cartela Alfa RO)- Sonia FERREIRA (IAFE PT) – Arielle MEFFRE (IFCIL FR)– Akis APOSTOLOPOULOS (Union of Agriculture Cooperatives of Larissa Tirnavos Agia GR) - Jacopo BENEDETTI (GRANAFORMA ES) – Maria Rita BRACCHINI (Centro Studi Villa Montesca IT)

The Community of Practices of the Tobacco Operators: experiences in Rumania, Portugal, France, Greece, Spain and Italy

Coffee Break

11.30Planned speakers – Situation and perspectives of the tobacco sector in Italy, SpainPortugal, Greece, France and Rumania

Moderator Javier MORALES (ASAJA Granada ES)

(Speakers: Social partners, trade unions, agricultural associations, members of Regions, tobacco’s producer)

Open discussion

12:30Piero MORA (EC, DG Agriculture and Rural Development – Head of Unit – Rural Development Programmes Hun, It, Mt)

The tobacco sector and the perspectives of the rural development programmes