Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001413/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anne-Sophie Frigout (PfE)
With the wine industry legitimately concerned about the international situation, Europe must also provide a response by removing disincentives to trade within the EU.
Wines and spirits especially are struggling here, with it still being easier for a vineyard to export internationally than to another Member State.
In Champagne, winegrowers who sell remotely to European citizens have to pay taxes (excise duties and VAT) for each destination country. The cost is so high and the procedures so complex that many winegrowers simply do not bother.
This barrier to trade persists, even though online sales are going through the roof and consumers now look to have a direct link with producers.
Since 2021, there has been a threshold below which internal EU sales to private individuals are treated for tax purposes as sales in France. Above this threshold, a one-stop shop facilitates the return and payment of VAT in the Member States. This initiative to simplify trade between EU countries could be replicated for excise duties on alcohol.
Will the Commission introduce such a measure in order to facilitate exports between Member States and respond to the crisis faced by this sector?
Submitted: 7.4.2025