German finance chief floats gasoline tax in migrant crisis

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AP

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's finance minister on Saturday floated the idea of a European tax on gasoline to help finance the continent's efforts to manage the migrant crisis.

The European Union has struggled to find common ground amid the influx of people seeking safety and a better life. Germany and Sweden have allowed in large numbers of refugees, while many other countries are reluctant to share the burden.

"If the funds in national budgets and the European budget aren't enough, then let's agree, for example, to raise a levy on every liter of gasoline at a certain level," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

"Why not agree this at the European level if the task is so urgent?" Schaeuble asked. "We must secure the Schengen (border-free travel zone) external border now. Solving these problems must not fail because of limited funds."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/german-finance-chief-floats-gasoline-tax-migrant-crisis-094913191.html

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German finance minister wants EU-wide petrol tax to pay for migrants

Berlin (dpa) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Saturday mooted the possibility of an additional EU-wide petrol tax to cover the increasing cost of migration to Europe.

"We have to secure the external borders of the Schengen zone. We mustn‘t fail to solve these problems because of limited funds," the conservative politician told daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Schaeuble‘s proposals come in the wake of a EU finance ministers‘ meeting in Brussels, which failed to come up with a feasible plan to pay for the cost of migration.

"I suggested we could raise a tax on each litre of petrol if there aren‘t sufficient funds in national budgets or in the European budget," Schaeuble said without a naming a figure.

http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/german-finance-minister-wants-eu-wide-petrol-tax-to-pay-for-migrants_433779.html

http://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/Europe/

[yeoman6987]

1. Interesting. Will be interesting to see this play out

[EL34x4]

2. I'm sure the news will go over well after the recent mass sexual assaults

committed by migrants that Europeans will now have to pay a higher tax at the pumps to accommodate them.

And when the far right takes over Europe, liberals will stand around with befuddled looks on their faces wondering how in the hell that happened.

[christx30]

3. You said what I was thinking.

You just said it better than I could.
The refugees are getting increasingly unpopular. Women don't feel safe going out at night. There are a few swimming areas that have now banned young Arab men from going because of the problems they cause.
And now Europeans are going to have to pay more for their upkeep?
I hope the Right will add a thank you note as they are sworn into office. You're doing them a huge favor.

[7962]

8. "There are none so blind.....:"

Yep. And then the hand wringers will all be wondering "how could this happen?"

[Angel Martin]

11. people in europe don't buy as much gasoline as north america

still, they will have a twice monthly reminder of who is responsible for the higher prices, when fuel prices in europe are already double or triple our prices...

who is giving this policy advice ? PEGIDA ?

[christx30]

12. PEGIDA would be suggesting purchasing large amounts of rope. `

Unless the aim is to get the German people pissed enough at Merkel to force a vote of no confidence.

[smirkymonkey]

20. What a disaster! I can't believe that Merkel couldn't foresee these problems.

Instead of being sensitive to the concerns of her country-people, she is just doubling down. It's disgusting.

[iandhr]

7. Took the words right out of my mouth.

[houston16revival]

4. A tax shared by all

to help those in crisis.

You can hear it now.

SOCIALISM!

[branford]

6. Much of the crisis is due to primarily to Germany's intentional open invitation to migrants

and lack of vetting despite opposition by many other countries in the EU and their prescient warning of its social, economic and political effects.

Demanding that other countries now fund Germany's folly, no less when national and family budgets are still strained, is not socialism, it's chutzpah.

[iandhr]

10. +1

[christx30]

17. Shared by all.

Does that apply to the women that have been raped by the beneficiaries of the tax?

[branford]

5. Every citizen of the EU should pay even more for their already highly taxed gasoline,

and potentially further strain barely recovering economies, largely because countries like Germany and Sweden offered an open invitation to migrants against the wishes and better judgment of many of their EU partners?

Wolfgang Schaeuble is not a stupid man and he must know that this proposal will be extremely unpopular in Germany and the rest of the EU, no less while news of the widespread sexual assaults is still prevalent. I'm tempted to believe that he's setting-up the political conditions in Germany to finally close the door to migrants on the pretense of limited budgets and lack of EU-wide cooperation in the crisis after his gas tax proposal inevitably fails to garner much support.

[7962]

9. Which might actually work. Good point. nt

[Dems to Win]

13. Hope you're right, hope it works nt

[FLPanhandle]

14. This is another damning bit of information for Merkel

They had no plan when opening the doors to any immigrant that wanted to come.

Apparently, they also had no plan to pay for all these immigrants.

What a clusterfuck.

[tabasco]

15. That's going to go over like the Hindenburg

went over New Jersey.

[Democat]

16. How badly do these politicians want to be voted out of office

Ignore whether it's a good or bad idea and just think about the politics of this proposal for a moment.

[philosslayer]

18. Sounds very sensible

Obviously additional resources are required to adequately care for Europe's newest residents, and with gas prices having fallen so much, it wouldn't be that great a hit to the wallets of those purchasing fuel.

[bemildred]

19. Tax the banks, go where the money is. nt

[smirkymonkey]

21. I agree, taxing the citizens who are bearing the brunt of this influx is not only

cruel, but politically suicidal. Merkel is an idiot. I hope she is voted out asap.