There already is a minimum fuel levy in the European Union, but governments are allowed to impose higher taxes (but never lower taxes, of course). This tax difference is causing some truckers to drive longer distances to buy fuel where diesel taxes are lower. The proposed response to this alleged problem is to reduce the difference in the tax among jurisdictions. Needless to say, the Euro-crats have decided that the solution is higher tax rates for all nations.

The EU Observer reports on the latest evidence that tax harmonization is always a scheme to increase government power:

EU tax commissioner László Kovács is set to table a proposal to harmonize the minimum level of excise duties at €359 per 1000 litres of diesel in 2012 and subsequently at €380 in 2014, a move which would see most EU states increasing their current rates.

According to Mr Kovács’ paper — seen by EUobserver — such a rise would stamp out so-called fuel tourism, as big trucks now make detours from their routes to tank in a state where it is the cheapest, generating more greenhouse gas emissions as well as losses to some EU states’ coffers. Germans, for example, are willing to drive two to four additional kilometres for each euro cent price differential compared to a neighbouring country in the case of gas oil. Fuel tourism cost Germany €1.9 billion in 2004.

…[O]ne Lithuanian diplomat [is now] saying the Brussels proposal should be scrapped as it would translate into an overall increase in prices and inflation. “It could freeze Lithuania’s euro hopes”, a diplomat told EUobserver, adding “taxes remain one’s competitive edge and countries with high rates have taken a voluntary risk”.