Refugee crisis: EU’s Dombrovskis backs fuel tax idea
A fuel tax to help Europe absorb refugees has again been floated, this time by Valdis Dombrovskis, a top EU official. Criticism flowed last week after German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble first aired the idea.
European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told the German newsmagazine “Der Spiegel” Saturday that he agreed with Schäuble that fresh ideas, such as a fuel tax, were needed to deal with refugee crisis gripping Europe since September.
“A fuel tax, at a national or European level, could be a possible source of financing, especially if you take into account that petrol (gasoline) prices are at a historical low,” Dombrovskis said.
His remarks coincided with a call by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi that Europe’s Schengen zone comprising open internal borders be “defended.”
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(Photo of Dombrovskis: EC Audiovisual Service)
