Reduced rate of excise duty on locally produced and consumed alcohol in the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores: period of application

The European Parliament adopted by 554 votes to 63, with 8 abstentions, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (Parliament consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision amending Decision 2009/831/EC as regards its period of application.

Parliament approved the Commission proposal without amendment.

To recall, the proposal seeks to extend until 30 June 2014 the period of application of Decision 2009/831/EC, which authorises Portugal to apply a reduced rate of excise duty in the autonomous region of Madeira on locally produced and consumed alcoholic products as well as in the autonomous region of the Azores.

It seems justified to extend the period of application of Decision 2009/831/EC, for six months, so that its expiry date coincides with the expiry date of the current guidelines on regional State aid for 2014-2020.