http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/19018/story.htm
EU to aim for energy taxation deal in January EU: December 13, 2002 BRUSSELS - European Union finance ministers will aim to reach a deal in January on planned common rules for the taxation of energy products, German Finance Minister Hans Eichel said. Germany had been blocking the planned EU bill as it was opposed to granting France and Italy an extension of tax-breaks for road hauliers, but there was a clear indication that differences had been bridged at a EU finance ministers' meeting in Brussels. "I am assuming that in January an agreement on energy taxation will come," Eichel told reporters after the protracted meeting which was taken up with discussions on taxing interest on savings. Belgium Finance Minister Didier Reynders had also earlier indicated a deal on harmonised rules for the taxation of energy could be on the cards. "I have the feeling...that we are practically all in agreement on the energy dossier," Reynders told a news briefing on the sidelines of the meeting earlier in the day. "There are no more differences between Germany and France on this point." The EU has debated for years the merits and drawbacks of setting minimum tax levels for energy products, but has never agreed on the matter which requires unanimity among the bloc's 15 member states. Currently the EU only has minimum energy tax levels on mineral oils. The new rules would impose tax floors for a range of other energy products. Environmentalists see energy tax as an essential policy to spur companies and individuals to use energy frugally and reduce the pollution caused by fossil fuels and nuclear power. REUTERS NEWS SERVICE Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
