Carbon emissions and car tax

14.11.2007

WRITTEN QUESTION P-5780/07
by John Whittaker (IND/DEM)
to the Commission

In its communication COM(2007)0002 of 10.1.2007 the Commission proposed that ‘the EU pursues in the context of international negotiations the objective of a 30 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by developed countries by 2020 (compared to 1990 levels)’.

The proposed EC Directive COM(2005)0261 will require Member States to restructure their car tax systems for the purposes of the internal market.

Can the Commission please set out what plans it has for passenger car tax and state if it will rule out calling for it to be made an EU competence at any point in the future?

As the EU sets the minimum levels for duty on passenger cars, will the Commission rule out any call for above-inflation increases in the minimum levels now or in the future?

OJ C 191, 29/07/2008