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EU official backs German migrant fuel tax idea

The Local Germany
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EU official backs German migrant fuel tax idea
Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is looking for ways to balance Germany's budget. Photo: Peter Kneffel/dpa

A German proposal for a continent-wide fuel tax to help finance the absorption of migrants has won backing from the European commissioner for the euro, news magazine Spiegel reported Saturday.

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Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble had last week floated the idea of introducing a tax on petrol in Europe to help cover the costs of tackling the continent's worst migration crisis since World War II.
 
"A fuel tax, at a national or European level, could be a possible source of financing, especially if you take into account petrol prices are at a historical low," Valdis Dombrovskis told the magazine.
   
"I agree with Mr Schäuble, we need fresh ideas in Europe to deal with the refugee crisis," said Dombrovskis, who is also the European Commission's vice president.
   
Schäuble's suggestion triggered a welter of criticism, including from within the ranks of his CDU conservative party.
 
The party's vice president Julia Klöckner rejected the plan on grounds it amounted to telling taxpayers it was up to them to foot the bill for the influx of refugees.

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