Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision authorising Denmark to apply, in accordance with Article 19 of Directive 2003/96/EC, a reduced rate of taxation on electricity directly provided to vessels at berth in a port

Taxation of energy products and electricity in the Union is governed by Council Directive 2003/96/EC (the ‘Energy Taxation Directive’). Pursuant to Article 19(1) of the Directive, the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, may authorise any Member State to introduce further exemptions or reductions in the level of taxation for specific policy considerations.

The objective of this proposal is to allow Denmark to apply a reduced rate of taxation on electricity directly provided to vessels at berth in a port (‘shore-side electricity’). This exemption is meant to give an economic incentive to the use of shore-side electricity in order to reduce air pollution in port cities and improve local air quality for the health benefit of inhabitants.

The aim of the measure to be applied by Denmark is also to reduce the environmental impact of maritime transport.

EUR-Lex: COM(2015)203: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2015:203:FIN

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