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EU ‘kilometre tax’ plans spark anger in the Netherlands

September 1, 2016

Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

A new EU plan to tax vehicles by the distance they drive has provoked some angry responses in the Netherlands.

According to the Telegraaf, the plan released over the quiet summer months to try to improve Europe’s air by reducing transport emissions is ‘draconian’.

Barbara Visser, an MP for the VVD Liberal party, told the Telegraaf that the plan was ‘completely ridiculous’ and should be ‘wiped from the table’ as unnecessary interference.

The EU has agreed that transport will be 60% cleaner in 2050 than in the year 1990 and the new plan says ‘everywhere in the EU should switch to a road tax based on actual mileage’.

But the Dutch parliament has actually already taken the first steps towards banning petrol and diesel cars from sale in the Netherlands from 2025, after passing a Labour PvdA party motion on electric cars in March.

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