Spanish farmers plan a month of fuel protests

Spanish farmers have pledged another month of protests about fuel prices after talks with the Governmment faltered.

The Madrid government refused to budge from its refusal to cut taxes on fuel but reiterated its offer of income tax relief and soft loans for farmers, fishermen and truckers.

Diesel fuel sold to farmers at reduced rates has gone up 55% since August of last year to about 1 pound 20 a gallon.

Meanwhile, in an emergency meeting, EU transport ministers failed to produce an agreement on harmonising taxes and instead led to a simple appeal to OPEC oil-producing nations to step up production.

In its monthly report, the European Central Bank warned governments not to sacrifice tight tax and spending plans and undermine economic growth to placate protesters outraged by fuel prices.

The fuel protests began in France and then spread to other EU nations, most recently Spain.

Thousands of fishermen and farmers blocked several highways and ports and surrounded fuel distribution centres in Spain.

For average consumers, taxes in Spain account for roughly 58% of the price at the pump.

Meanwhile, the situation eased up in Sweden, where some 300 truckers called an end to their blockade of ports in one city in recognition of the disruption they were causing.

In Poland, the government suspended duties on all imported fuel in an effort to ease rising prices and head off a big jump in inflation.

Last updated: 21:28 Thursday 21st September 2000

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_65617.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 22, 2000