Aviation fuel tax backed by EC

THE European Commission yesterday backed moves to tax aviation fuel to help fund aid to developing nations - a step that would increase airfares.

Commission spokeswoman Francoise Le Bail said the tax, which will be discussed by the finance ministers on Thursday, would help meet the commitment for rich countries to contribute 0.7% of their gross national income to fund development projects in poor countries around the world.

The endorsement comes a month after a report released by the UN’s anti-poverty task force shows how developed nations are not meeting pledges made in 1970 to alleviate poverty, hunger and disease in poor nations by 2015.