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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-02-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
04/02/97
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission proposes exceptional financial assistance to Armenia,
Georgia and Tajikistan
[02] President Constantinescu visits the Commission
[03] EU and Japan agree outcome on liquor tax dispute
[01] Commission proposes exceptional financial assistance to Armenia,
Georgia and Tajikistan
The European Commission has proposed making available to Armenia, Georgia
and, if appropriate, Tajikistan exceptional financial assistance of up to
ECU 220 million, in the form of long-term loans of ECU 170 million
combined with straight grants of ECU 50 million. This exceptional
assistance is justified by the particularly harsh conditions presently
faced by these countries and has been proposed with a view to supporting
the strong adjustment and reform programmes that these countries are
implementing, and alleviating the important social cost that these
programmes involve.
[02] President Constantinescu visits the Commission
Professor Emil Constantinescu, the newly elected President of Romania, met
President Jacques Santer, Commissioners Hans van den Broek and Yves-
Thibault de Silguy yesterday afternoon. They discussed the political and
economic challenges facing Romania in its preparations for accession to the
European Union. President Constantinescu outlined the programme of reforms
being developed by the new government and the presidency to consolidate
democracy and fully liberalise the economy together with particular action
to fight corruption. The European Commission gave its warm welcome to the
new programme and willingness to mobilise its various instruments in
support of the reform measures foreseen.
[03] EU and Japan agree outcome on liquor tax dispute
European producers of whisky, brandy, gin, vodka and other spirits will
enjoy lower tax when selling to Japan following the settlement of a long-
running dispute on Japanese liquor tax. Intensive discussions between the
European Union and Japan have led to an agreement under which tax on
imports into Japan will be reduced and brought closer to tax levels on
local spirits. For brown spirits such as whisky and cognac, the tax is
currently 600% higher than for local products. This gap will be narrowed to
just 3%. This will be achieved through a combination of a large tax
decrease on brown spirits and a smaller increase on tax on the local
product, Shochu. For white spirits like vodka and gin, currently taxed
250% higher than local products, tax discrimination will completely
disappear, with both being taxed equally in future. The tax changes will
come in two stages - on 1 October 1997 and then a year later.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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