14/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 14 March, France and the United Kingdom reactivated their idea of “green VAT” to promote products that help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. During a press conference, Nicolas Sarkozy said that, together with Gordon Brown “we have been pushing for the development of green taxation and I am very pleased to see that the European Council also invites the Commission to reflect upon all the tax instruments that would allow the development of clean products”. In conclusions approved on Friday, the European Council invites the Commission to present legislative proposals on VAT rates, due in the summer of 2008, and, working with the member states, to examine areas where economic instruments, including VAT rates, can have a role to play to increase the use of energy-efficient goods and energy-saving materials.