In line with the original position of the Hungarian government, the EP rejects the climate tax proposal

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In a surprise vote, the majority of members of the European Parliament rejected on Wednesday proposals to extend the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), introduce a carbon tax and create a social climate fund.

MEPs rejected the proposal on the extension and revision of the Emissions Trading System, drafted by Peter Liese of the European People’s Party, by 365 votes against, 265 in favor and 34 abstentions.

Lawmakers then agreed to refer the motion, as well as related reports on the carbon border tax and the social climate fund, to the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) for further discussion.

Hungary is aiming for carbon neutrality in 2050 with nuclear and solar energy

The Hungarian economy has grown by more than 60 percent in the last 30 years, but our emissions have been reduced by 32 percent, state secretary Kaderják told Hungary at the First “Site” Conference.

The surprise result of the vote aligns with the position of the Hungarian government, which has been strongly opposed to the introduction of the tax, arguing that polluting corporations, rather than people, should bear the cost of the green transition when it’s about the weather. change

After the vote, Fidesz MEP Edina Tóth called the rejection of the climate tax “a great victory” for her party.

“The result of the vote clearly shows that the climate package is bleeding from many wounds and has failed to gain political and social support,” Tóth said in a statement, adding that it enjoyed neither political nor social support.

Brussels’ plan will make citizens and families pay for its green policies, he said, calling this “unacceptable”. Major polluters should bear the costs of greening, not ordinary people, the statement added.

The tax will also jeopardize the Hungarian cap on domestic utility bills and raise inflation, Tóth said.

We will continue to fight to ensure that this proposal is not adopted. We are committed to the green transition as a common goal, but not at any cost. Our position is clear: the cost of the transition should not be borne by Hungarian and European citizens, but by the big polluters. “We will continue on the path we started, and we will prevent EU regulation from imposing a new tax on Hungarian citizens,” added MEP Edina Tóth.

Photo illustrations presented via the official Twitter page of the European Parliament

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