France backs down on plan for environmental tax

Article reports that the French government has announced March 2010 that it will abandon its plan to introduce a carbon tax on domestic energy and road fuels - unless there is agreement on a European Union-wide levy.

François Fillon, French Prime Minister, said that Paris would not penalise industry by introducing the tax unilaterally.

The French Green Party accused President Sarkozy of populism after he made the announcement.

EurActiv, 24.3.10: France turns to Europe for carbon tax plan http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-environment/france-turns-eu-carbon-tax-plan-news-375149

Deutsche Welle, 24.3.10: France scraps carbon tax plan as Sarkozy comes under pressure http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5383942,00.html

France24, 24.3.10: Abandoning carbon tax was 'shallow and populist', say Greens http://www.france24.com/en/20100324-abandoning-carbon-tax-was-shallow-populist-say-greens-sarkozy-environment-france

EurActiv, 8.4.10: France takes carbon tariff campaign to Washington http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/france-takes-carbon-tariff-campa-news-425425

EurActiv, 16.4.10: Italy joins French calls for EU carbon tariff http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-environment/italy-joins-french-calls-for-eu-carbon-tariff-news-450643

BBC News, 23.3.10: French government backs down on carbon tax plan http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8583898.stm

France24, 23.3.10: Government to drop carbon tax in another setback for Sarkozy http://www.france24.com/en/20100323-france-carbon-tax-ump-fillon-sarkozy-setback-environment

ESO: Background information: Sarkozy’s pledge on amended carbon tax http://www.europeansources.info/record/sarkozys-pledge-on-amended-carbon-tax/

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