EU EXCISE LAW

BY KEITH NUTHALLEUROPEAN Union (EU) legislation that allows member countries to maintain widely divergent rates of excise duty will not face formal reform proposals from the existing European Commission promoting greater harmonisation. In a note released ahead of yesterday's EU Council of Ministers for finance (ECOFIN), internal market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein confirmed a report on alcohol excise was under discussion, but would not confirm a release date. However Brussels said: "The report will not be accompanied by a proposal to modify the existing system ...


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