The EU Council President's proposal for the budget for the period 2021-2027 provides for the introduction of a levy on non-recycled packaging plastic of EUR 0.80 per kg  (1) . This idea is not new. At the beginning of 2018 Günther Oettinger, a member of the Commission at that time, had announced that the idea of a so-called plastic tax was being considered. One of the matters being considered was who should pay this levy. The revenue was supposed to flow into the Union budget as own resources (2) . In May 2018, however, Commissioner Oettinger announced that there would be no such levy  (3) .

1. What was the outcome of the Commission's assessment of this so-called plastic tax initiated by Commissioner Oettinger in January 2018?

2. Why did the Commission announce in May 2018 that there would be no such levy?

3. What amount of revenue was it estimated that such a levy would generate at that time?