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The Real Problems

While some people break out a dispute wishing to accredit as valid courses those made by mail or Internet to certify, in Italy, the technical managers of workshops or other doubt about the need to work together to defend the automotive gas sector, giving himself often answers only on the cost dues, few are realizing that a hurricane is gathering on the horizon and could make a clean sweep of every dispute: the European Commission has proposed a revision of the Directive 2003/96/EC on the taxation of energy products transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree No 2 February 2007 26.

Shortly, if nothing is done jointly, with strength, valid arguments and the proposal went to the port as well as today promises, the consequences would be severe in the gas sector and LPG in particular because the excise duty would increase significantly and so the pump price.
A note of the Committee explained that the proposed new rules are "aimed at restructuring the tax for energy products, eliminating the current imbalances." In fact, the calculation would be taking into account the CO2 emissions of each fuel, and their energy content, which together should determine the total rate to be applied to the product. In monetary terms, the UE note goes on to explain that "the component based on CO2 emissions released from energy product, amount to € 20 per ton of CO2 and the other based on the energy content, i.e. the actual energy generated by the product measured in gigajoules (GJ), would amount to 9.6 EUR / GJ for motor fuels, and 0.15 per GJ for heating fuels.”

Without going into technicalities, and the mathematical result that the calculation would result on the LPG excise (fantastically high), we do not believe that the measure should get through it in terms of promises right now, because it is clear that even with energy resolutions of fairness, it does not match the trend now recognized and vital for the environment to support alternative and more sustainable energy. But the proposal will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council; at Brussels people say that everything should come into force, but gradually, starting in 2013.

Obviously we must act with determination and in conjunction with effective instruments at each location and at all levels. An undersecretary as a friend is not enough, as well as a Minister or an enlightened group of Italian parliamentarians, aware of the ecological value of LPG and CNG, who voted in favour of this or that national measure. Here we must rely on the reasons for the sector in Europe: the Committees, the Contact Groups, the General Directorates and political groups (often non-Italian groups) that ultimately will vote on the measure. Often we will have to go to Brussels to ask for exemptions and make distinctions, to file documents stating undisputed and showing positions clear and unambiguous. All things technical, complex and expensive that only a united and strong sector can do.
Here is the problem: only a united and strong sector can do

Ugo Nazzarro

 : direttore@ecomobile.it