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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12346
Contents Publication in full By article 18 / 28
BREACHES OF EU LAW / Taxation

Commission's action against Budapest for application of insufficient excise duties on cigarettes

The European Commission announced its decision on Thursday 10 October to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice for failing to apply the minimum excise duty threshold on cigarettes in force in the European Union.

This is set at 60% of the weighted average retail selling price of cigarettes.

After a long transition period, followed by a reasoned opinion from the Commission on 6 June last, calling on Hungary to align its rates (see EUROPE 12271/19), the Commission took the next step and referred the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

In addition to the fact that this inaction runs counter to the Union's health protection policy, this situation leads to distortions of competition with other Member States, the Commission stressed in a statement. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)

Contents

COMMISSIONERS-DESIGNATE HEARINGS IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
INTERNAL MARKET: dropped by EPP and part of S&D, Sylvie Goulard has been rejected by European Parliament
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
EMU: progress has been made in preparation of euro area budget, but its financing has not been finalised
MONEY LAUNDERING: Member States recognise need for reforms, but not all at same speed
TAXATION: European blacklist now includes only nine non-cooperative jurisdictions
ECONOMY: Member States recognise need to streamline European financial architecture for development
STATE AID: European Commission approves Greek asset protection scheme ‘Hercules’ for banks
EXTERNAL ACTION
ENLARGEMENT: despite division amongst Member States, Mr Hahn insists on opening negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania
SYRIA: Europeans urge Turkey to stop its offensive
TRADE: provisional anti-dumping duties will be applied on imports of Chinese steel road wheels
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
BUDGET: MEPs call for 'an emergency plan' in case of late agreement on 2021-2027 financial framework
TRADE: American sanctions against Airbus will undoubtedly shake European unity
EIB: “The EIB is ready to go greener”, says Werner Hoyer to MEPs
ENVIRONMENT: pesticides, European Parliament says no to keeping about 60 active substances on market
GMO: European Parliament opposes authorisation to import 2 glyphosate/glufosinate resistant maize and one transgenic soybean
JUSTICE: European Parliament gives green light to a cooperation agreement between Eurojust and Serbia
DEMOCRACY: Parliament adopts a resolution aimed at combating foreign interference and disinformation
BREACHES OF EU LAW
RULE OF LAW: Commission refers Warsaw to Court of Justice to make it backtrack on its disciplinary regime for judges
TAXATION: Commission's action against Budapest for application of insufficient excise duties on cigarettes
HUNGARY: Budapest has 1 month to justify to Commission its practice of depriving some migrants of food
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: post-2020 CAP, agricultural markets and forests to be debated in EU Council on Monday, 14 October
FISHERIES: EU Council is preparing to drastically reduce 2020 quotas for cod and herring in Baltic
ENVIRONMENT: climate protection requires investment in wastewater treatment, according to EEA
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
ENVIRONMENT: derogations from wolf hunting in Finland must be strictly regulated, according to Court
INSTITUTIONAL
UNITED KINGDOM: According to Leo Varadkar and Boris Johnson, basis for deal on orderly exit can be found by 31 October
NEWS BRIEFS
UNITED STATES: exports of strontium chromate from Austria and France will soon be hit with anti-dumping duties
FINANCE: European Commission launches new high-level forum on capital markets union
JUSTICE: European Commission consults on protection of environment through criminal law
MOZAMBIQUE: EU increases humanitarian aid for cyclone victims by 10 million euros