From: EurActiv.com
Belarus should take measures against its illicit tobacco trade with Europe, lawmakers and stakeholders warn.
Minsk claims that the EU decision to impose sanctions on the country “prevented” dialogue over issues like the illicit tobacco trade, but that now the situation has improved. The removal of most of the sanctions and the recent establishment of an ongoing dialogue with the Customs and Anti-Fraud office is paving the way for a more constructive collaboration between the EU and its neighbour.
At the “EU-Belarus cooperation: Can it help in fighting illicit trade?” event organised by Euractiv.com last week (8 February), several stakeholders stressed the need for the Belarusian government to show political will and cooperate in the fight against the illicit tobacco trade, which has severely impacted member state revenues.
