Brussels, 21/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 20 December, the Commission published the results of the consultation exercise launched in August on the possible reform of excise levels on commercial diesel (see EUROPE 9245). 52 responses were received from interested parties, with 31 from the road haulage industry and six from the oil industry. The Commission will produce a report in 2007, possibly along with a legislative proposal.
Not surprisingly, road hauliers welcomed the Commission's initiative. They supported amendment of directive 2003/96/EC on the taxation of energy products which set out minimum thresholds of €302 (€330 from 2010) and €359 for lead-free petrol. They say that the best option from those proposed by the Commission would be full harmonisation of excise duties, if possible before 2018 and at a level below the current minimum taxation level. If harmonisation were impossible, road hauliers could agree to the option to bring national excise levels closer together within a fluctuation band determined at Community level, the width of which would gradually decrease in stages to €100 in 2010. They consider this solution, which could be applied provisionally, could most easily receive unanimous Council approval.
The Commission says that representatives of the motor industry are not convinced of the size of the problems raised by the Commission and back the Commission's third option, that is, the status quo. Representatives of the oil industry adopted a more neutral stance. However, representatives of service station companies in the Member States where excise duties are high support harmonisation of commercial diesel taxation. (mb)