The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine absorbs European practices in excise taxation

On May 10-12, 2016, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine hosted the workshop “Adjustment of the Ukrainian legislation to EU guidelines on excise and taxation of energy”. Experts of the German Society for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH) shared their experience with Ukrainian public servants who attended the workshop.

The workshop was conducted by German tax experts Ingrid Dinkelmann-Wendle and Friedrich Seewald on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Finance. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, the State Fiscal Service, the Academy for Finance Management at the Ministry of Finance and the Parliament’s Office for Financial and Economic Analysis.

The agenda of the workshop included issues like diplomatic tax exemptions for petrol, tax exemptions for diesel fuel, EU Energy Directive, EU regulations on state aid as well as tax exemptions for mineral resources, metallurgical and chemical industry, dual-use tax exemptions.

During the workshop, excise exemptions for various types of energy products were discussed. Important issues discussed in the workshop were also the preparation for the implementation of the respective EU Directive, adjustment of the Ukrainian regulations to the EU law as well as the timely implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

The workshop was conducted as a part of cooperation with the GIZ project “Strengthening administrative authorities to reform public finances” which is being implemented on behalf of the German Government to promote and support the public finance reform in Ukraine. The Project provides support to the Ministry of Finance and other state agencies of Ukraine by contributing to the development of human capacities, fostering professional contacts as well as ensuring adjustment to international best practices.

For information: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the Federal Government of Germany in international cooperation for sustainable development. The priorities of German cooperation with Ukraine include democracy, civil society, public administration, decentralization, energy and sustainable economic development. Also, the German cooperation with Ukraine comprises assistance in overcoming the crisis situation in eastern Ukraine as well as HIV/AIDS prevention.