Eurocrats aim to ramp up diesel tax
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THE EUROPEAN Commission plans to force up minimum diesel taxes across Europe to stop truckers filling up in the EC countries with the lowest prices.
This is to help operators across the EU compete on a level playing field, and to help the environment by stopping drivers making unnecessaryjourneys to get cheaper fuel.
One EC source explains: "It makes no sense for us to encourage an unnatural incentive to do extra kilometres."
There is already an EU minimum for diesel taxes, but rates vary widely between EU states.
Since 2004 the EU's minimum diesel tax has been €302/1,0001it (£202). Under the new proposals this will rise to €330 (1220) in 2010 and to €380 (£254) in 2014.