TAXPAYERS are being forced to make up for at least €5 billion lost through excise duty fraud on cigarettes and alcohol, according to the EU.

PERSONAL details of all air passengers flying to America, including credit card details and home addresses, will be handed over to US authorities under a deal agreed with the EU.

POLITICAL cynicism is on display in the EU this week in a number of forms. The most common kind is in the relationship between the EU and its member states.

AER LINGUS will provide US authorities will details of all passengers flying to America from the end of this month, despite fears that it may invade people’s right to privacy.

PARENTS are being ripped off by shops and manufacturers who are charging more for children’s shoes despite a zero VAT rate.

THE price of a standard stamp will increase by 21% or about eight cent under proposals released by the European Commission.

The Danish presidency of the EU said the European Commission and Switzerland remain at odds over banking secrecy following talks yesterday.

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy has backed a British veto on plans to abolish Vehicle Registration Tax on cars. The proposal being drawn up by the European Commission would scrap VRT, which at present adds from 21% to 30% to the cost of cars in Ireland, and replace it with an annual road tax.

PLANS to harmonise and increase tax on diesel and unleaded petrol and to harmonise vehicle registration tax will bring Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy on a collision course with the European Commission.

The European Commission has launched an attempt to force banks to cut huge customer charges for moving money around the EU.