EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 33/85

(2004/C 33 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0870/03

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 March 2003)

Subject: Averting alcohol-related harm in Finland

The assessment base used for excise duties on alcoholic beverages in Finland is substantially higher than in most Member States. However, its yield does not match the costs to society incurred because of alcohol-related harm.

By virtue of an exception granted in the membership negotiations, Finland has been allowed to restrict quantities imported for private consumption so as to prevent the import incentive resulting from the differences in excise duties from giving rise to insurmountable problems. That exception is now coming to an end.

If a Member State can show that complete freedom as regards private imports causes serious problems from the point of view of public morality, public policy, public security, or health, as referred to in Article 30 of the EC Treaty, or specific public health problems within the meaning of Article 95, can it act to put matters right? What kind of measures are possible in such a situation?

Joint answer

to Written Questions P-0810/03 and P-0870/03

given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

1. Council Directive 92/84/EEC of 19 October 1992 deals with the approximation of rates of excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverages. Under its provisions it is necessary for the excise duty rates laid down in that Directive to be reviewed periodically by Council. This review shall be based upon a Commission report. The Commission is preparing such a report at present, which will take into account all relevant issues, in particular the proper functioning of the internal market, competition between the different categories of alcoholic drinks, the real value of the rates of duty and the wider objectives of the EC Treaty, as provided by Article 8 of the said Directive. These considerations will also include the public health considerations mentioned by the Honourable Member.

2. As the Commission has already highlighted in its report of 24 May 2000 (1), the restrictions applied by Denmark, Finland and Sweden to the quantities of excise products that can be brought into the territory of these countries from other Member States by travellers constitute a derogation to the principle of free movement in the Internal Market, and were granted by the Council in order to enable these Member States to adapt their policy gradually to the full requirements of the Internal Market. In this report, the Commission urged the Member States concerned to take the necessary steps in order to prepare for a smooth transition to the application of the general rules in force after the expiry of the derogation at the end of 2003. The Commission also encourages Member States to take other measures aimed at reducing the adverse health effects of alcohol consumption. In particular, the Community action programme in the field of public health (2003-2008) (2) includes provision for the ‘preparation and implementation of strategies and measures, including those relating to public awareness, on lifestyle related health determinants, such as alcohol, including measures to take in all Community policies and age and gender specific strategies’. A call for proposals and a work plan for 2003 (2) in connection with this programme have recently been published.

(1) COM(2000) 316 final.

(2) OJ L 271, 9.10.2002.