03/06/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 2 June, following approval by a written procedure, the Council of the EU formally adopted the conclusions updating the EU regulatory framework on rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco (see EUROPE 12492/24). The Member States' Ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) had already given the text the green light on 27 May (see EUROPE 12494/19). The conclusions call on the European Commission to present a legislative proposal to guarantee equal tax treatment of new tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, which do not fall into any of the product categories that are subject to excise duties under Directive 2011/64/EU. A statement from Hungary was added in an annex to the text in order to clarify the fact that, in the event of an increase in the minimum rates of excise duty on any tobacco product, Hungary is not committing to align the increase with those applicable in Member States that have recently increased the rates of excise duty on the tobacco product in question. To read the conclusions, go to: https://bit.ly/2Xud9X7 (MF)