DRAGUTINOVIĆ: I will suggest changes in Law on excise taxes

The Minister of Finance of Serbia, Diana Dragutinović, announced today (January 26, 2009) that she would suggest changes in the Law on excise taxes in order to bring the excise taxes on cigarettes in accord with the proposal of the Government and manufacturers of cigarettes.

- Since we have given up the action plan for excise taxes (made on the occasion of privatization of tobacco factory), I wanted to do that in agreement with the industry – said she at the conference on fiscal decentralization in Serbia.

The Minister added that the amendment concerning the excise taxes on cigarettes had not been accepted by the Government of Serbia, and she said that it was not in accordance with the Government’s strategy for excise tax policy.

- Introduction of the amendment violated the agreement with the manufacturers of cigarettes – said she and added that she felt "embarrassed at the fact that the state did not keep its promise".