WRITTEN QUESTION E-1029/01 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission. Excise duty on alcoholic beverages.
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: alcoholic beverage, competition, excise duty, single market

C 318 E/188

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

(2001/C 318 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1029/01

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Excise duty on alcoholic beverages

The Commission has long considered the question of the application of excise duty to alcoholic beverages.
Article 93 provides a legal basis for the introduction of harmonised structures for excise duties on alcoholic
beverages so as to ensure the establishment and the functioning of the internal market.

Despite this, the Commission has failed to produce any proposals concerning the imposition of excise duty
on alcoholic beverages. It is understood that a further study into this issue is being conducted. When will
this study and the Commission(cid:146)s response be published?

Can the Commission give an assurance that it will not propose any measures or undertake any activities
which would increase discrimination in favour of any one category of beverages and that it will continue
to seek the introduction of a system which ensures that competition in the single market is not distorted?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 May 2001)

As part of the preparation of the next report of the Commission on the levels of the minimum excise duty
rates and the excise duty rates applied by Member States on alcoholic beverages, a study on competition
between different types of alcoholic beverages has been carried out by a private consultant. This study has
recently been finalised. Furthermore, the Commission is consulting all the Member States, as well as the
interested health and trade organisations. This consultation process is now nearly completed. Based on all
the information and opinions received, the Commission is drafting its report, which should be adopted
during the coming months. As yet, no decision has been taken on whether or not this report should be
accompanied by a proposal for a Directive changing the minimum rates of excise duty on alcoholic
beverages.

it can assure the Honourable
The Commission cannot prejudge the outcome of the report. However,
Member that it has taken note of the positions expressed by trade organisations and Member States
concerning possible discrimination between different categories of drinks and distortion of competition in
the single market. These issues will be addressed in the report.

(2001/C 318 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1030/01

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Alcoholic beverages

Does the Commission consider that wine is an alcoholic beverage?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Alcoholic beverages are not defined in Community legislation. In Annex I to Council Regulation (EC)
No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine (1), wine is defined as
(cid:145)the product obtained exclusively from the total or partial alcoholic fermentation of fresh grapes, whether
or not crushed, or of grape must(cid:146).