(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 15 - The EU economy ministers have approved a text of agreement on the carbon tax at the borders.
This is the mechanism part of the EU climate package to protect European companies from competitors producing countries with less stringent EU climate legislation.
"The proposals put on the table today simplify the governance of the mechanism and reach a good balance between the role of the Commission and the Member States - said the Minister of Economy Daniele Franco - we appreciate in particular that the text recognizes the need for control measures to avoid fraud" .
Important issues, however, remain out of the agreement and will have to be resolved in the coming weeks, before the Council gives the green light to negotiations with the European Parliament.
One of these is the timing of the full entry into force of the new system, which provides for a corresponding elimination of the free rates of the EU-ETS system, on which the countries have not yet found an agreement.
(HANDLE).