14 March 2008
Gordon Brown has hailed the "progress" on environmental issues at the EU Council in Brussels where he has been pushing for changes in VAT regulations that will help promote greener products.
Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of the summit, the PM said that EU leaders had agreed to review the VAT regime on environmentally friendly products and that the UK and France had succeeded in "starting the debate".
The PM and French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a joint letter yesterday to Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso calling for action on climate change through tax reform. The two leaders said the EU should continue to look at "economic instruments" that contribute to any take-up of green products by both businesses and consumers.
Last night the PM told journalists that if the EU was serious about the environment it should look at "all means" to reduce carbon emissions. He said he wanted VAT to be reduced by up to 50 per cent on goods such as eco-friendly fridges, dishwashers and washing machines.
In the press conference Mr Brown said that the meeting had also brought agreement on the need for greater international cooperation to identify and deal with financial crises such as the current credit crumch
Image copyright: Reuters
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