HELSINKI, Sept. 14 -- The finance ministers of members of the European Union on Saturday discussed options of changing the EU energy legislation to adapt to the climate change combat.
Air travel taxation got attention, but with emphasis on the needs to take into account the competitiveness matter.
Mika Lintila, the Finnish finance minister, said in a statement that it is "difficult to envision air travel taxation without the taxes being global".
Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the European Commission, said a number of member states, especially those that are "isolated", expressed concern about the adverse impact of any aviation tax.
"When we are discussing European green deal and transition into carbon neutral economy, competitiveness and social impact needs to be taken into account," said Dombrovskis.
He recalled that when the EC announced the European Green Deal, it also published a "just transition fund" to help regions most affected by the transition.
The 2003 EU energy tax directive includes no aviation tax. Dombrovskis noted that it was investigated in the meeting on Saturday where consensus could be reached on themes much wider than just aviation taxation.
Besides a possible aviation tax, the ministers also discussed changes in taxation rates of energy products, promotion of the use of renewable fuels, taxing on basis of CO2 emissions or energy efficiency.
"Further discussions will be needed. Today gave an indication of the level of ambition," Dombrovskis concluded.
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