Brussels, 27/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 24 November the Finnish presidency amended its draft compromise on the directive adjusting excise taxes on alcohol, intermediate products (sweet wines, sherry) and alcoholic drinks in line with inflation. It is proposing the application a rate identical to that for beer (4.5%) for the category on intermediate products. The draft directive is on this Tuesday's Ecofin Council's agenda.
The presidency also slightly amended its draft compromise on the directive on the value added tax threshold and excise duties on merchandise accompanying travellers to the EU. It only kept the option to introduce differentiated thresholds according to the mode of transport used and now suggests a €430 threshold for merchandise accompanying travellers using air transport and €300 when using other modes of transport. It has also revised the quantitative limits on tobacco products. In this case, differentiation also applies: 200 cigarettes for merchandise accompanying travellers entering the EU by air and 40 cigarettes when other means of transport are used. (mb)