Brussels, 03/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council has adopted the amendments to the directive on energy taxation, granting the new Member States exemption until 2012 at the latest. All acceding countries presented exemption requests, as the Accession Treaty allows for legislation adopted after it is signed. The minimum taxation thresholds are lowered for fuel in particular (diesel, kerosene, leaded and unleaded petrol), as well as for the energy used for heating and industry. With the...