Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko (center) assumes that the debate on fuel tax cuts will also land in Finland. However, promises of tax cuts cannot be made at this stage.
– I do not promise directly similar decisions as in Sweden, Saarikko says.
Saarikko emphasizes the importance of securing the operating conditions for professional transport. This is also important for security of supply.
– My concern is especially about professional transport, ie the moving part of Finland that ensures that goods and people move from one place to another.
According to Saarikko, the Ministry of Finance is in close discussion with representatives of professional transport regarding the situation.
He says he will meet his Swedish colleague Mikael Dambergin Following the meeting of the EU Economic Council in Brussels.
– I want to understand their background, to have a discussion with a colleague about how Sweden came to these solutions.
Successful energy transition requires money
According to Saarikko, the rise in energy prices has spoken to all EU countries since last autumn. The Russian attack has exacerbated the situation.
– Finland, for its part, made decisions about the effects of rising energy prices a few weeks ago before the war began, and focused the biggest investments on commuters in the form of improving the tax deduction.
According to Saarikko, the member states do not have a common position to support fuel prices. The equation must also take into account the impact of subsidies on the EU’s climate goals.
– Direct tax cuts on fuel are all basically support for the continuation of the fossil world. There are also speeches that all public funds should be allocated to strengthen this transition, Saarikko says.
The situation is difficult from the point of view of both the EU and the individual Member States.
– Insane financial resources should be found for the success of this transition, the severance of ties with Russia and the fight against climate change. At the same time, the plight of citizens and companies is deepening, Saarikko describes.
According to him, the situation that has arisen is unfortunate and unreasonable for individual citizens. However, when deciding on further measures, Finland’s economic position must also be taken into account, the Minister of Finance points out.
– We have to take into account Finland’s own state finances, which are not as good as in Sweden, for example, and consider where we can focus these contributions.