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Parliament Okays 80-percent Tax on Surplus Emission Quotas
Wednesday 01 December 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 1 (TASR) - Surplus emission quotas that some companies received in allegedly excessive amounts under the tenure of the previous government will be subject to a newly-introduced 80-percent tax in 2011 and 2012 after Parliament voted in favour of a respective proposal on Wednesday.
The move was backed by the entire Coalition, while most MPs representing opposition parties abstained from the vote.
Speaking last week, Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) defended the initiative by saying that Slovak companies were set overly generous emission limits by the previous government, earning them €660 million over the 2008-12 period.
According to Miklos, these limits were disadvantageous for the state, so the ministry has decided to levy a tax on the surplus amounts. The measure is aimed at raising €150 million for state coffers.
"These revenues will at least partly cover the losses caused by Robert Fico's government, which acted in favour of private companies instead of the public interest," said Miklos on Friday, adding that the new tax will affect 133 firms.
Miklos's allegations about the former government handing out overly generous emission limits are rubbish, said Smer-SD leader and former premier Robert Fico.
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