EU Countries Dispute Scope, Design of Tobacco Tax Bill

European finance ministers questioned the technical scope of an EU tobacco tax bill, underscoring the difficulty in sticking to the bloc’s preference to wrap up the negotiations quickly.

Countries criticized the high proposed rates on cigarettes, the absence of a transition period between current rates and the proposed ones, and questioned the differentiation between cigarettes and other products at a public debate on the bill in Luxembourg on Friday.

“Significant work is needed,” on the bill known as the Tobacco Excise Directive, Luxembourg Finance Minister Gilles Roth said during the debate.

The bill would more than double the current ...