The European Union is drawing up plans for its first direct tax with a "green" levy on petrol, coal and natural gas that could cost British consumers up to £3 billion.
Proposals expected to be announced next month would give the EU its first funding which would not come from national governments.
Algirdas Semeta, the new European commissioner for taxation, is planning a "minimum rate of tax on carbon" across the whole EU as a "priority".
The plan to push for more financial independence from national governments comes as the EU attempts to build a more powerful position in the world.
Following the new Lisbon Treaty, the EU now has an expensive array of new institutions including a new President of Europe and a foreign minister with her own diplomatic service.
Hervé Jouanjean, Director General of the European Commission's Budget department, recently told a Brussels audience that the EU was "very close to paralysis" because of the reluctance of stretched national treasuries to give it funding
Proposals expected to be announced next month would give the EU its first funding which would not come from national governments.
Algirdas Semeta, the new European commissioner for taxation, is planning a "minimum rate of tax on carbon" across the whole EU as a "priority".
The plan to push for more financial independence from national governments comes as the EU attempts to build a more powerful position in the world.
Following the new Lisbon Treaty, the EU now has an expensive array of new institutions including a new President of Europe and a foreign minister with her own diplomatic service.
Hervé Jouanjean, Director General of the European Commission's Budget department, recently told a Brussels audience that the EU was "very close to paralysis" because of the reluctance of stretched national treasuries to give it funding
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