Yesmoke Tobacco S.p.A.

Minister Guilio Tremonti

”If the Italian authorities insist on not aligning the VAT aliquots on pay TV, the E.U. Commission will have to open a  violation procedure*” said a spokesman of the European Union.  A cry of alarm echoed throughout the peninsula and Minister Tremonti promptly  informed them: “ faced with a Community violation procedure, the solution could be only that of alignment.”

But there is another violation procedure against Italy, already under way; it is the one regarding the Minimum Price of cigarettes. Although the figures at stake are considerably higher than those of the VAT on television,  this E.U. warning has passed in the most absolute, total and rigorous silence of the government, of the opposition and of the information organs. The government disregards it completely and compliance is ignored. Read more »

If, on one hand, the European Union has established that the minimum price is illegal, supporting Yesmoke's thesis, on the other, the EU itself is undertaking action that will cancel out completely the effects of its abolition.

Laszlo Kovacs, European Commissioner for Taxation and the Customs Union

The European Union is a question mark. Why was it formed? What could be the purposes of a union of countries whose president was Romano Prodi, the man who condoned Philip Morris not only tens of billions of euro in tax evasion, but also pardoned all the criminal activities it had been carrying on for decades?

Who is there behind the European Union? One thing seems certain: the “European Home” is totally enslaved by some big corporations, and among them, there are the multinational tobacco manufacturers.

On the 16th of July of this year, Laszlo Kovacs, European Commissioner for Taxation and the Customs Union, in a press conference on “Changes in Tobacco Taxation”, presented a tax proposal that is absurd; it would give the single countries a totally free hand to determine their minimum excise duties. It appears aimed at favoring the interests of the tobacco multinationals. Read more »

October 5th 2007: Yesmoke launches its first attack against Big Tobacco.

After receiving its license, Yesmoke has presented to the European Commission a denunciation against the so-called Minimum Price* in effect in Italy, which forbids the retail sale of cigarettes at less than 3.40 euro for 20 cigarettes.

The complaint is the first step towards an exciting target that will be easier to reach than one might think.

It is the first blow to the cigarette manufacturing cartel, creating for them in Italy financial damage that can amount to more than 1 billion euro, funds that will be directed to the State treasury (800 million will come from Philip Morris alone).

And who are the parasites that will stand up for their sponsor? Read more »

The decision comes on the eve of the license issue to Yesmoke.

Yacht Ferretti 881, “The new flagship of the sea” - Loa 28 m, No. of people on board 24, Construction material GPR - Price: Euros 5,920,000.00

The European Commission has officially announced that it is ready to undertake legal action against Italy (as well as Austria and Ireland), for the decision to fix a minimum price for cigarettes as a measure to dissuade smokers, instead of using the instrument of taxation.

“Taxation has the same effect on prices as a mandatory minimum price, and it doesn't damage the competition on a price basis”, points out the communication.

Contrary to the “Minimum Price”, a tax increase, obviously involving all brands, would increase the Statès income, and it would lower the profits of the multinational tobacco producers, as they would have to lower their prices to remain competitive. Read more »

Television yes, cigarettes no.

Paolo Gentiloni

“The Government is preparing changes to the law that go precisely in that direction”, promptly underlined Minister Gentiloni, after the European Union started up violation procedures* against Italy for the “Gasparri” Law on telecommunications.

It would seem like advice and admonitions coming from Brussels are taken very seriously in this country. And thanks to the media hammering on the case, Italians know perfectly well today what a “Procedura di Infrazione” (Violation Procedure) is.

Yet, on April 10th of this year, another Violation Procedure was started against Italy for the so-called Minimum Cigarette Price**. But this one was received in absolute, total silence; it was not even mentioned by the government, the opposition or by any organs of information. Read more »