Luxembourg, 21/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - France may maintain its tax on strong alcoholic beverages levied for social security contributions. The Court of Justice rejected the action initiated by the European Commission which considered the levy was counter to the provisions of the European directive on excise duties. The Court recalls that, alongside excise duties and VAT which have "budgetary purposes", the Member States may keep other levies for specific, well-defined purposes (Ed.: such...