Strasbourg, 21/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - As the rapporteur of the economic and monetary committee, Dutch Liberal Jules Maaten, recommended, the EP approved the draft directive concerning application by Sweden of excise duties for alcoholic drinks and tobacco products, above certain quantities for products imported from other Member States by individual persons, for their own use. The Commission proposes that (like Denmark and Finland), Sweden should be authorised to maintain until 31 December 2003 the restrictions on quantities that individuals may bring into Swedish territory without having paid additional excise duties. These restrictions would, however, be gradually phased out over this period, according to a time frame that the Swedish government has informally promised to comply with.
Gradual changes are in fact needed to ensure respect of the internal market by the Swedish government, which applies a specific model in this field, and which, at the outset, had been granted exemption. The Commission shows its understanding towards Sweden since the policy that this country has implemented regarding alcohol seems to have effectively reduced consumption, with obvious results on the health of the nation (number of deceased persons due to cirrhosis of the liver: 6.7 for 100,000 in Sweden, against 22.7 for 100,000 in Portugal).