Energy taxation: European Parliament rallies around EPP Group refusal of artificial rise in diesel prices at the expense of consumers!

"European consumers should not pay the price of demands from energy taxation fundamentalists! Today's vote is a great political victory for the EPP Group, which remained firm on its position. But it is first and foremost a victory for our citizens," said Astrid Lulling MEP on Thursday, after the European Parliament, holding its plenary session in Strasbourg, adopted her report on energy taxation.

"While our political opponents were getting ready to vote in favour of a mechanism that would lead to a substantial rise in diesel prices as compared to petrol, we managed to impose our views." said the MEP. "Socialist and liberal MEPs who, at the vote in committee, had all aligned themselves with an exclusively ecological political line which flouts any other consideration, have finally rallied around the position of the EPP Group in plenary. Our firmness paid off!" she added.

"The principle of 'proportionality' between different minimum thresholds applicable to each energy source, which the European Commission wished to introduce, would have concrete consequences for consumers: diesel prices 9% higher than those of petrol, in all Member States. In Germany and in France, this rise would be higher than 22 cents per litre. How could our citizens have understood this?" she explained.

"Consequences for the sector of transportation of persons and goods, entirely dependent on diesel, and for the European car industry, which is a world leader in this technology, could be catastrophic as well," she continued.

"Is it possible, like the Commission is seeking to do, to contribute to meeting the objectives of the fight against climate change through taxation? Maybe. In this respect, I support the new methodology introduced, which consists in taxing energy on a double basis - on C02 emissions and on energy content. But things are not as simple as some would have us believe and, in times of economic crisis, it would be irresponsible to impose on our citizens and our economies a burden even heavier than it already is, when our competitors are far less demanding" she said.

"I am happy that the European Parliament will finally present a balanced compromise to the Council, which is the only captain on board as regards taxes," Astrid Lulling concluded.