Reduced rate of certain indirect taxes on "traditional" rum produced in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Réunion

The European Parliament adopted by 563 votes to 23, with 78 abstentions, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (Parliament’s consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision amending Council Decision No 189/2014/EU authorising France to apply a reduced rate of certain indirect taxes on ‘traditional’ rum produced in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Réunion and repealing Decision No 2007/659/EC.

Following the recommendation of its Committee on Regional Development, the European Parliament approved without amendment the Commission proposal which provides that, for the period from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020, the reduced rates of excise duty on rum are limited to an annual quota of 144 000 hectoliters of pure alcohol (instead of 120 000 hap).