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Updated Thursday, April 14, 2011 11:14 am TWN, AP

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EU planning radical changes to energy, fuel taxation policy

BRUSSELS -- The European Union has proposed a radical overhaul of how energy in the 27-country bloc is being taxed that could lead to higher levies on diesel and coal.

Wednesday's proposal — already opposed by some states — would tax fuels based on their CO2 emissions and how much energy they produce. At the moment, taxes are mostly based on volume.

The EU's Taxation Commissioner Algirdas Semeta said “a fair and transparent energy taxation is needed to reach our energy and climate targets.”

The European Commission, the EU's executive, said most states already have taxes above the proposed minimum levels.

But the levies on diesel — relative to gas — could increase after a phase-in by 2023, since it produces more energy and CO2.

Coal taxes could rise from 2013.

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