Brussels, 04/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Brussels on Tuesday 4 November, European finance ministers were not able to reach unanimity on a general guideline for the proposal of directive revising the general arrangements for products subject to excise duty (alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and mineral oils) (see EUROPE 9603). The draft directive on the table introduces a legal framework for the establishment, in 2009, of an electronic Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS).
The Slovenian delegation pointed out it was “not able to take position”, said French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde. A new government is being set up in Slovenia and the position of the national parliament could prove necessary for the new team to be able to lift its reservation on the proposed compromise by the French Presidency. This reservation does not cover the introduction of the electronic system for the control of products subject to excise duty, but to the transitional period granted to Greece for closing its duty-free shops in ports and airports. Slovenia considers the transitional period up to 2017 (as suggested by the French Presidency) too long, when a period of only six months had been granted when it joined the EU in 2004. It may accept 2015 as the buffer date. (M.B./transl.jl)