Dock dues in the French overseas department: period of application of exemptions or reductions to dock dues

PURPOSE: to extend for a period of six months the current arrangements on dock dues in the French overseas departments.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision No 378/2014/EU amending Decision 2004/162/EC concerning the dock dues in the French overseas departments, as regards its period of application.

CONTENT: the decision authorises France to apply exemptions or reductions for a further six months until 31 December 2014 to dock dues for products produced locally in the French overseas departments.

This additional period of six months is to allow the Commission to complete its assessment of France’s demand for the application until 31 December 2020 of a system of differentiated taxation similar to the current system to give it the time to prepare a balanced proposal that takes account of the various interests at stake. In this way, it will avoid creating a legal vacuum in the absence of the adoption by the Commission of a proposal before 1 July 2014.

The exemptions and reductions in taxes applicable are intended to help the French overseas departments to compensate for the natural handicaps they face and which result in higher production costs. They help to maintain, create and develop local production.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the decision is applicable from 1 July 2014.