Text tabled : A7-0052/2012

  Estelle Grelier (S&D), in writing. – (FR) The European Parliament has been consulted on the reform of the system of taxation of energy products and electricity. While I voted in favour of Ms Lulling’s report, I believe that if it is to be understood and accepted by citizens, this change should take place gradually, bearing in mind the current socio-economic situation. Today, the cost of fuel is already a major expense for family incomes, and some families have consequently started to change their consumer habits. That is why I am opposed to the ‘proportionality’ principle between the different threshold levels applicable to each type of energy, which is likely to cause a very great increase in the cost of diesel, a widely-used fuel in France. Europe’s ecological objectives must not be achieved at the expense of the objectives of employment, competitiveness, and protection of consumers’ purchasing power, but must go hand in hand with these. Let us hope that the Council, the sole decision maker in fiscal matters, will listen to this message from the MEPs.