EU to review implications of tax

Journal Article · Wed May 21 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Chemical Week

OSTI ID:554907

Scott, A

The European Council of Ministers has postponed discussion of the European Commission`s proposed energy tax and has authorized a study to reevaluate the technical and legal implications and the costs and benefits of the tax. The reevaluation comes as a ray of hope to European chemical industry officials, who are concerned about the effects of the tax on the industry`s international competitiveness. The commission`s proposal would tax natural gas, electricity, and coal in the European Union (EU) for the first time. It would raise taxes throughout the EU to one level. In its current form the energy tax would devastate the European industry`s competitiveness outside the region, says European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) counsel Claude Culem. We`re willing to improve emissions to achieve environmental goals - we don`t need energy taxes, Culem tells CW. The whole project is dangerous, not necessarily in the short term, but certainly in the long term. European Parliament ministers are scheduled to debate the issue with the Dutch government, which holds the EU presidency, and hope to wrap up proceedings over the summer. The tax may only be adopted when ministers agree on it unanimously. If it is approved, it would be implemented in two stages, in 2000 and 2002.

• OSTI ID: 554907
• Journal Information: Chemical Week, Journal Name: Chemical Week Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 159; ISSN CHWKA9; ISSN 0009-272X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
COAL
ELECTRICITY
EUROPEAN UNION
EVALUATION
NATURAL GAS
TAXES