France calls for EU tax on aviation and shipping fuel

The French government has lent its weight to a call for a European levy on fuels used by airlines and ship operators, with finance minister Bruno Le Maire describing the ongoing tax exemption as “ludicrous”.

Outlining the main pillars of a strategy to achieve full employment by 2025, Le Maire spoke of a “moral obligation” to tackle environmental crises, and said aiming for a net-zero CO2 emissions by mid-century would play a central part in France's economic transformation.