Reuters reports that the European Union has failed to get agreement on a common energy tax policy to help fight global warming. The report said that Italian demands for tax breaks for road hauliers scuppered the latest proposals.

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But Reuters said that the Greek minister who chaired the meeting of finance ministers said he hoped the plan to raise existing minimum tax levels for oil products and introduce EU-wide minimums for coal, gas and electricity, could be agreed in the coming weeks.

The energy tax proposals have been under discussion in the EU since 1997.

Reuters said that the Italian objections stem from its heavy reliance on road transport for exports. Italy wants to extend tax breaks for truck fuel and the government has been under pressure from demonstrations over fuel prices in the past.

Fuel duties and taxes vary widely across the states of the EU.

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