On the proposal for a Council directive restructuring the Union framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity (recast)
PECH-PA-700684
Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Gabriel Mato
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The Committee on Fisheries gives its draft opinion on the Commission proposal to restructure EU taxation of energy products and electricity. It asks the committee responsible to keep fuel for fishing exempt from energy taxation.¶¶¶ It proposes amendments to recitals and articles so that fishing is excluded from the new taxation of waterborne navigation fuel, and so that member states exempt fuel and on-board electricity used for fishing.¶¶¶ It argues that taxing fishing fuel would harm the sector's international competitiveness, small-scale vessels, fishing communities and consumers, and calls for a full impact assessment before the proposal is discussed.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries asks the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs to take into account amendments that keep fuel and on-board electricity for fishing exempt from energy taxation, exclude fishing from waterborne navigation taxation, and add exemptions for targeted tax reductions.¶¶¶
Key points
- The draft opinion says the Commission proposal drops references to maintaining EU enterprises' international competitiveness and to international fuel de-taxation obligations, leaving only environmental aims.¶
- It states that lifting the fuel de-taxation scheme for EU fishing would create an uneven international playing field, harming EU producers, particularly small-scale ones.¶
- It finds the proposal would treat fleets unfairly, since large vessels can refuel cheaply on long trips, and would raise prices for final consumers, especially of fresh products.¶
- It says the proposal would encourage building larger vessels, is seen as unfair given the fishing sector's emission cuts since 1990, and that fishing capacity ceilings limit green innovation.¶¶¶
- It calls for a full impact assessment before co-legislators discuss the Commission proposal.¶
- Amendment 1 adds a recital stating that existing international obligations and maintaining Union companies' competitive position make it advisable to continue exemptions for energy products supplied for fishing.¶
- Amendment 2 adds a recital that a new fuel tax would disadvantage the Union fishing industry, treat territories unfairly, raise consumer prices, and cause large-scale bankruptcies and job losses, especially for small-scale fishing.¶
- Amendments 3 and 4 change recitals 23 and 24 so that fuel used for waterborne navigation excludes fishing from taxation, and extra-EU waterborne navigation excludes fishing from possible exemption or reduced taxation.¶¶
- Amendments 5 to 7 add exemptions to recitals on targeted tax reductions for environmental objectives, social impact and vulnerable households.¶¶¶
- Amendment 8 inserts a new Article 13a requiring member states to exempt energy products supplied as fuel for navigation and fishing within Union waters, and electricity produced on board a fishing vessel.¶
- Amendment 9 removes fishing from Article 15(1) on minimum taxation for fuel supplied to vessels for intra-EU waterborne regular service navigation and freight transport.¶
- Amendment 10 adds a point to Article 16(1) exempting energy products for navigation and fishing on inland waterways and electricity produced on board a fishing vessel.¶
Who is affected
- EU fishing operators, especially small-scale ones, who would face higher fuel costs and unfair competition.¶¶¶
- Final consumers of fish, particularly fresh products, who would pay higher prices.
- Local fishing communities, which would face job losses and bankruptcies.
- Member states, which would have to apply the exemptions for fishing fuel and on-board electricity.¶