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European Parliament debates Commission's Proposal on general arrangements for excise duty
Procedure: Consultation
Draftsperson: Bill Newton Dunn (ALDE, UK)
Lead committee: ENVI
Rapporteur: Astrid Lulling (EPP-ED, LU)
Timetable:
* 26 June - deadline for tabling amendments
* 15 September - discussion of amendments
* 10 October - vote in committee
IMCO: Consideration of a draft opinion on General arrangements for excise duty
On the 24th of June the IMCO Committee (Internal market and consumer protection) debated the Commission's proposal. The debate was limited with the draftsman suggesting that Romania and Greece be allowed to carry on having duty free shops at their borders, and recommending that regional airports also be allowed to sell duty free for passengers going via a National hub with a final destination being outside of the EU. He argued that it was a valid argument given the necessity for regional economies.
Lechner (EPP-ED, DE) gave a rather confused speech that covered the pros and cons of such an approach.
Herczog (PES, HU) felt that the Commission's proposal was the way to go.
Ruhle (Greens/EFA, DE) argued that on this issue, full harmonisation was the best way forward.
No one else chose to take the floor, and the above timetable was confirmed.
Meeting documents
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/organes/imco/imco_20080623_1500.htm