Report: Astrid Lulling (A7-0052/2012 )

  Ivailo Kalfin (S&D ). - (BG) Mr President, I would like to say on behalf of my colleagues from the Bulgarian delegation in the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament that we voted against this report on increasing the excise rates for certain fuels as we believe that the report does not make adequate economic sense.

At a time when market prices for fuel are rising – a trend which will continue in the future – aligning rates and increasing the rates on diesel will have, albeit in the long term, several negative effects: higher inflation, less competitiveness among companies and a much lower quality of life. This will particularly affect countries where incomes are lower and the relative price of fuel is much higher.

What would happen if the duties are increased in line with incomes in each country? We would then see that some countries would really be affected much worse. This is why I believe that the Council must not allow this decision.