Excise duties: reduced rate on locally produced and consumed alcohol in the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores

The Committee on Regional Development adopted the report drawn up by Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP, PL) approving unamended, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a Council decision authorising Portugal to apply reduced rates of excise duty in the autonomous region of Madeira on locally produced and consumed rum and liqueurs and in the autonomous region of the Azores on locally produced and consumed liqueurs and eaux-de-vie.

According to the rapporteur, whilst the proposed decision is essentially technical, it is important that Parliament reviews it in order to ensure that the qualifying conditions governing the original authorisation still exist and to control that no undue advantage was being given to one sector of the market.