Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002377/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anna Bryłka (PfE)
At a meeting of the Sub-Committee on Taxation (FISC) on 6 February 2025, the Commission’s main priorities for 2025 in the area of taxation were presented, including the objectives of the new excise directive, as its priorities in the area of tobacco taxation regulation.
Poland is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of tobacco products in the European Union. At the same time, the tobacco sector provides more than 30% of excise revenues for the state budget, while the shadow economy is at a historically low level of less than 5%. This is a huge achievement by the Polish authorities in the fight against the shadow economy, given that one in every five cigarettes smoked in Poland came from illegal sources in 2015, and is also the result of a sensible and balanced tax policy, including the introduction of a multi-year plan for excise duty increases.
The approximation of the level of taxation and prices in the EU that underpins the excise directive has already failed and will only increase illegal trade and smuggling.
- 1.Could the Commission please set out the economic and social impact of the revision of Directive 2011/64/EU on the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco?
- 2.Could the Commission please provide a timetable for the work on the proposed changes?
- 3.Could the Commission state which Member States support the proposed changes?
Submitted: 12.6.2025