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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13728
Contents Publication in full By article 15 / 42
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS / Taxation

Revision of directives on tobacco taxation – Member States divided on minimum rate of excise duty

The European Finance Ministers discussed the proposal for directives on excise duties and the general arrangements applicable to tobacco and tobacco products on Friday 10 October in Luxembourg. While there is broad agreement on extending the scope of application, there is disagreement on introducing a harmonised minimum rate of excise duty.

Announced in July (see EUROPE B13683A15), this proposal would not only generate new tax revenues (see EUROPE B13682A1), but would also support public...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: EU27 agree on principle of protecting minors online but not on method
DIGITAL: European Commission asks Snapchat, YouTube, Apple and Google to clarify their online child protection measures
DIGITAL: Danish Presidency of Council of EU still pushing for regulatory pause in implementation of AI Act
MIGRATION: ‘safe countries of origin’ – with very few amendments to initial text, MEP Alessandro Ciriani is banking on his report being adopted quickly
MIGRATION: MEPs called to vote 13 October on criminalisation of migrant smugglers and treatment of humanitarian aid
HOME AFFAIRS/MIGRATION: EU countries invited to discuss compulsory mutual recognition of national return decisions
JUSTICE: Mutual Recognition of Freezing and Confiscation Orders – Eurojust says national practices hamper effectiveness of 2020 Regulation
ENERGY: EU able to secure gas supplies this winter, even if supplies from Russian pipelines are completely cut off
CLIMATE: Danish Presidency of EU Council confirms 4 November as date for new Environment Council before COP30
CLIMATE: “pressure is high on the EU” to present its 2035 emissions reduction target before COP30, according to CAN Europe
AGRICULTURE: European Commission approves €50 million in support for farmers in six EU countries
FISHERIES: European Commission publishes technical guidance documents on engine power for EU countries
HEALTH: according to WHO, one in three European healthcare staff suffer from depression or anxiety
HEALTH: vector-borne diseases represent growing challenge in EU, according to European Commission
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: revision of directives on tobacco taxation – Member States divided on minimum rate of excise duty
TAXATION: EU Council welcomes European Commission’s recommendation on tax incentives to support ‘Clean Industrial Deal’
TAXATION: Jordan, Montenegro, Greenland and Morocco added to European list of jurisdictions with commitments to good governance standards
BANKS: Banco BPM-UniCredit – Maria Luís Albuquerque gives her assurance that European Commission will not hesitate to enforce internal market rules
FINANCE: ESMA launches public consultation on technical standards for participation in CCPs
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: proposals for new own resources submitted by European Commission do not meet approval of EU Member States
BUDGET: Court of Auditors issues unfavourable opinion on expenditure financed by EU budget in 2024, but notes decreased error rate
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Ursula von der Leyen intends to discuss allegations of Hungarian spying with European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
EXTERNAL ACTION
DEVELOPMENT: EU finalises series of strategic agreements to develop Lobito Corridor
MIDDLE EAST: EU does not rule out extending mandate of its two civilian security support missions
Russian invasion of Ukraine
RUSSIA: Austria and Slovakia block adoption of 19th EU sanctions package
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: European public service workers’ unions call on EU leaders to break with years of underinvestment
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
CULTURE: European Capitals of Culture – European Commission publishes interim evaluation (2020-2033) demonstrating project’s long-term benefits
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
JUSTICE: Venice Commission celebrates its 35th anniversary
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: extension, until end of 2026, of Commission’s guidelines on state aid for restructuring non-financial companies
HOME AFFAIRS: EU’s Entry/Exit system will be phased in gradually from 12 October
CHINA: EU extends its anti-dumping duty on certain Chinese ceramic products
CLIMATE: according to Copernicus, September 2025 was third hottest September on a global scale
TRADE: Generalised Scheme of Preferences – co-legislators do not expect agreement before November
ECONOMY: EU Council gives green light to Germany’s medium-term fiscal-structural plan
ENVIRONMENT: access to eco-labelled products remains uneven across Europe, according to report by environmental NGO and consumer organisation
TAXATION: EU Council approves protocols amending automatic exchange of financial account information with five neighbouring countries
FRANCE: Valdis Dombrovskis calls on Paris to take “substantial measures” to consolidate its budget by 2026
JUSTICE: in Spain, European Public Prosecutor’s Office indicts 36 suspects and five companies with VAT fraud worth €24.3 million
DIGITAL: six new AI factories added to Europe’s artificial intelligence development network
SOCIAL: political negotiations on ‘quality traineeships’ directive to start in November
TRANSPORT: European Union and Azerbaijan strengthen cooperation
TRANSPORT: EASA introduces series of new drone-related tools in new version of its air mobility hub