EU finance ministers at an informal ECOFIN meeting held September 13–14 in Helsinki discussed the possibility of introducing new energy taxation rules in the EU as a means to mitigate climate change.
The current European framework for energy taxation has been unchanged since 2003.
According to a Finnish Presidency note, the topics for discussion at the ECOFIN meeting were whether energy taxation has a role in delivering EU climate goals, what should be the main elements of a potential revision to the EU’s current energy taxation directive, and a review of best practices in EU States for amending energy taxation and addressing environmental concerns.
“It is of utmost importance that climate action becomes an integral part of the Finance Ministers’ agenda. To achieve our Paris goals, we need both public and private investment,” said Valdis Dombrovskis. Vice-President for Euro and Social Dialogue, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union at the European Commission, speaking to the press after the meeting.
Be the first to comment