Strasbourg, 19/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Parliament called on the European Commission to withdraw its proposal to harmonise tax on the fuel used hauliers as well as harmonisation of the levels of duty on diesel and petrol for private car users. It followed the line of its economic committee and rapporteur Piia-Noora Kauppi (EPP-ED, Finland), according to whom, this harmonisation was not justified from an environmental or competition point of view. Ms Kauppi considered that, "a certain degree of tax competition is perfectly healthy" and that there was no reason to penalise European constructors, who developed competitive diesel technology. It also judges that the environmental aspect should be taken into count in a more global context, including infrastructure access taxation.
Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Loyola de Palacio, regretted this vote and provided assurances that "in compliance with the agreements passed with the Parliament, the Commission will take the necessary measures". At this stage the Commission is eager to say that it is going to "reflect" on the EP's position, a subject on which it is only "consulted". Parliament, on the contrary, believes that the proposal is "virtually dead" insofar as the vote won by the EPP and Socialist groups show that it will be difficult to obtain an agreement at unanimity at the Council.
Belgian Green Pierre de Joncker and French Green Alain Liepietz criticised the "reactionary attitude" of the Christian Democrat, Socialist and Liberal groups during the vote, which, in a press statement said that they preferred fiscal dumping and blocked sustainable development. They warned that the "Greens will ensure that they remind them of this during the election campaign" in 2004. The two MEPs found the refusal of their colleagues "scandalous" when "States are limited in fiscal reforms to help sustainable development and jobs", as well as their opposition in principle to "any European tax harmonisation". The Greens say that they support the Commission proposal, even if it appears weak to them with regard to the level of duties proposed and its gradual nature.