Suchergebnisse

This study investigates whether tax structures are significant determinants of cigarette consumption patterns. The study analysed the tax burden on cigarettes in Turkey, and the tax rates were compared with the European Union (EU) countries. Then, it compares smoking trends in Turkey and EU countries. In the study, data from the statistical office of the European Union and the official institutions of Turkey were used. This study concludes that, in contrast to EU countries, ad valorem taxes in Turkey have a larger share than specific taxes. In addition, taxes on cigarettes have a deterrent effect in EU countries but not in Turkey. Thus, taxation techniques may be as important as tax rates in changing consumer preferences.

The European Union set a new record in its last year as EU-15. According to Eurostat, banana consumption exceeded 4.1 million tonnes in 2003. This is 50 000 tonnes more than in 2002, that is to say growth of hardly 1.2%. The modest increase hides marked trends by type of origin. Cameroon gained new market shares while Caribbean ACP countries continued to lose ground. Ecuador went down while Costa Rica gained ground. Colombia and Panama maintained their positions. Community production decreased a little. The market supply balance remained much the same: dollar origins 63%, ACP origins 19% and community origins 18%. Per capita consumption was very slightly up at just under 11 kg.

The competition policy pursued by the European Commission has a direct impact on the daily life of the citizens of the European Union. The reduction of telephone charges, wideraccess to air transport and the possibility of buying a car in the EU country in which prices are lowest are tangible results. Other, less visible, areas of Community competition policy also produce positive effects for the public. For example, merger control ensures a diversity of mass-market consumer goods and low prices for the final consumer. Likewise, by contributing to economic and social cohesion, the monitoring of state aid helps to promote viable and durable jobs throughout the Union. Whether they be consumers, savers, users of public services, employees or taxpayers, the Union's citizens enjoy the fruits of competition policy in the various aspects of their everyday life.

European Neighourhood Policy (ENP), launched 2004 as an instrument of closer relations with neighbours at east and south of Europe, was from the very beginning overambitious and contradictory policy. ENP not only overemphasized the EU normative power, but EU influence could not prevent political and security set-backs in the east, nor destabilization in the south. EU influence on reforms, democratization processes, foreign policies or conflict resolution in Eastern partnership countries is limited, while eastern regimes are more and more authoritarian and countries stucked in partial market reforms. In the south, Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and Union for Mediterranean are facing new challenges after Arab spring. EU announced more strict use of conditionality as an incentive for political reforms, but power of EU conditionality towards countries which have not prospect or desire to become EU members is questionable. ; Evropska politika susedstva, pokrenuta 2004. godine kao instrument ostvarivanja bližih odnosa sa zemljama susedima na istoku i jugu EU, od početka je predstavljala preambicioznu i protivrečnu politiku koja ne samo da je precenila snagu svog normativnog uticaja, već svojim uticajem nije uspela da spreči pogoršanje bezbednosne i političke situacije na istoku Evrope, kao ni porast nestabilnosti u Mediteranu. Uticaj EU na reforme, proces demokratizacije, spoljne politike ili rešavanje sukoba u zemljama Istočnog partnerstva ograničen je a režimi na istoku sve autoritarniji i tržišne reforme se polovično sprovode. Na jugu, evro-mediteransko partnerstvo i Unija za Mediteran suočavaju se sa novim izazovima nakon arapskog proleća. EU najavljuje striktniju primenu uslovljavanja u cilju podsticanja političkih reformi, ali snaga uslovljavanja prema zemljama koje ne mogu ili ne žele da postanu članice EU ostaje pod znakom pitanja.