Brussels, 30/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is presenting a proposal for a decision to the Council authorising Portugal to apply an reduction on excise duties on Rum and liqueurs produced and consumed in Madeira and on liqueurs and eaux-de-vie produced and consumed in the Azores. This decision would be limited to seven years, between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2008. The excise levy should not be less than 75% of the of the Portugal excise duty on alcohol. According to the Commission, this measure would enable local alcohol to be aligned on similar foreign alcohol. Portugal should present a report in 2005 demonstrating that the exemption is still justified. The proposal is based on Article 299 of the Treaty on outlying regions, which allows to take into consideration the economic and social situations of the regions. In its press release, the Commission stresses that "Today, sales in Madeira and the Azores of spirits that are produced there, amount to 360,000 lire a year and ensure 130 jobs, of which 70 seasonal".