The European Commission has declared it will not give up on its plans to update minimum alcohol excise duty rates in the European Union (EU), despite the EU Council of Ministers failing to agree the changes yesterday (7 November).

The proposals collapsed largely because of a refusal by Germany, the Czech Republic and Lithuania to countenance any increase in duty for beer; Brussels' proposals would have raised these country's duties by just over EUR0.01 for half a litre of 5% abv beer.

The Commission has no plans to redraft its proposals, a spokesperson told just-drinks today.

"The Commission's proposal remains as it stands," said Commission taxation spokeswoman Maria Assimakopoulou, adding that the EU's Finnish presidency would "continue to work on the dossier with a view to reaching an agreement at the next ECOFIN [EU finance council] meeting on 28 November".

Germany, however, opposes increasing the price of beer altogether.