This week is a significant one in Brussels with the European Union's ECOFIN Council once again debating Traveller's Allowances.

Finance Ministers from all Member States will be debating the draft directive setting duty free limits (VAT and excise duty) for the import of goods by travellers arriving in the EU.
Currently the Finnish Presidency is considering an across-the-board duty free allowance of E.350 for all travellers, or a E.500 for air passengers and E.300 for sea or land passengers. A recent attempt to resolve this matter which requires unanimity at ECOFIN failed.
At the same time, ECOFIN will also be discussing duties on alcoholic drinks. The Council is expected to give its views on a draft directive which is aimed at raising alcohol excise duty in line with inflation.
The most recent compromise put forward by the Finnish Presidency suggested a 4.5% rise in excise duty on beer and 31% on other alcoholic drinks, and the introduction on January 1 2011 of an automatic three-yearly review of excise duties.
The Finns will be hoping for some agreement in this last meeting under its Presidency, but the reality is that this is unlikely, since various Member States have very differing and opposing views on this.