MEASURES TO SOFTEN IMPACT OF THE ABOLITION OF DUTY-FREE SALES.

Mario Monti, the European Commissioner responsible for Taxation and the Internal Market, has confirmed that he plans to table additional measures before EU Economic Affairs and Finance Ministers at their meeting in Brussels on March 15, in order to limit the impact of the abolition of duty-free sales on intra-Community journeys at the end of June. Addressing the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism on January 20, Mr Monti agreed with MEPs that the abolition of duty-free sales will have serious repercussions for certain regions, especially in terms of employment. It is generally estimated that as many as 10,000 jobs might be lost if duty-free sales at airports and on ferries are abolished from July 1, 1999, in accordance with the 1991 Council...