05/12/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday, 5 December, European finance ministers adopted the EU Council’s conclusions that set out their expectations for a possible revision of the 2003 Energy Taxation Directive. In particular, the text calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to the scope of the directive, minimum rates, and specific tax reductions and exemptions (see EUROPE 12380/12). During the discussion, several countries emphasised that it was absolutely necessary to take the impact of a possible revision on competitiveness, connectivity, social aspects, as well as the cost of the transition into account. European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni assured that the impact assessment to be launched by the Commission will take the concerns raised by the ministers into account so as to produce a legislative proposal that is both “ambitious” and “inclusive”. See the adopted text: https://bit.ly/2s1BVAM (MF)