Finland Times

Foreign Minister Timo Soini, also the Chairman of Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), the second largest component of the government has dismissed the proposal to hike petrol tax in order to cover the costs of refugee crisis, reported national broadcaster Yle.

On the contrary, Finance Minister Alexander Stubb, the President of the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party), another component of the government has taken a positive but cautious approach on the proposal.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble on Saturday in an interview with German Süddeutsche Zeitung proposed that the European Union countries may introduce an extra taxation on petroleum products, if member states and the EU would otherwise not be able to cope with the costs of the refugee crisis.

Schäuble emphasised that the crisis should not remain unresolved due to lack of funds.

In the interview with Yle, Soini said the matters of taxation do not fall within the prerogative of the EU.

Stubb consider Schäuble's proposal open for discussion, but difficult to implement in practice.