EU FinMins in flap over booze - EUbusiness Week 229

09 July 2004, 12:19 CET

This Week's Top Stories

Crisis-hit Italian government escapes EU budget warning
Kyoto: EU plan for carbon trading clears key hurdle
Commission unveils revamp of trade preferences
Brussels sees eurozone growth surpassing 1.7 pct this year
Commission takes action over French bank card "cartel"
EU software patent directive under attack

Publisher's Note

The single market, desirable as it is, also produces its problems. On Wednesday, the Commission asked Britain to amend its policies on seizing goods - including sometimes cars - even for minor offences related to cross-border shopping for tobacco and alcohol. These, says Customs Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, often "interfere with people exercising the rights given to them by the EU's internal market to go shopping in other member states."

Finland's government is also concerned about booze trips. Purchases of alcoholic beverages by visiting Finns in neighbouring Estonia appear to have soared by a third since a March tax cut introduced to curb "alco-tourism". Finland's finance minister is now considering raising alcohol taxes again.

It looks like it will become increasingly difficult for finance ministers to put off convergence of tax policy, particularly if they continue their efforts to influence the lifestyles of EU citizens. UK Finland

Regards,

Nick Prag

Publisher, EUbusiness

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Comments of the Week

Commenting on our piece "Brussels delivers final warning to Britain over booze cruises", Charles comments:

"For UK citizens one small advantage (of few) of being in the EU is the booze cruise, but the UK Customs and Excise Gestapo want to make sure we can't even get that - does this Government want to win the referendum on the EU constitution or what?"

Nikolas suggests UK tourists "visit Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia - you can just use your ID and your euros. You won’t regret! It's an absolute beauty! Ah, I almost forgot: don't worry; nobody is going to check how many cigarettes or bottles of water you’re bringing with you." Story

On "EU's new Dutch presidency faces perilous six months", Dr Louise F Montgomery writes:

"I am curious as to Mr Romano Prodi's comment: "I do not like the political pressure (surrounding Turkey), but such is life," Prodi told journalists. What does he mean? If he is referring to George W Bush, how could Bush be important? I would hope that the EU, which I hope will continue to have economic and social success, will set its own standards. If Turkey isn't sufficiently "European," specify what would be sufficient and hold your ground. Don't let the U.S. push around the EU!" Story

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Would you sign up to the EU Constitution? Of the more than 4,300 who have voted, 60 per cent now say they would, while 36 per cent would not - and a mere 1 per cent say they don't know enough about it! Vote now in our poll at Story

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