17SEP2019 - NEWS - Malta against removal of tax exemption on shipping fuels

Malta is against the removal of tax exemptions on aviation and shipping fuels from the Energy Tax Directive, arguing that such a move would lead to negative repercussions.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna is currently attending the Informal ECOFIN meeting in Helsinki, Finland, where he insisted that a removal of the exemption was not the way forward.

“While Malta is aware that the Energy Taxation Directive needs to be updated to reflect present day realities, and to help promote the use of renewable and clean energy sources, the removal of tax exemptions on aviation and shipping fuels will have serious repercussion on many member states, including Malta, unless tackled internationally,” Scicluna said in a statement.