2.

The following Article is inserted: ‘Article 18a 1. By way of derogation from the provisions of the present Directive, the Member States specified in Annex III are authorised to apply the reductions in the levels of taxation or the exemptions set out in that Annex. Subject to a prior review by the Council, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, this authorisation shall expire on 31 December 2006 or on the date specified in Annex III. 2. Notwithstanding the periods set out in paragraphs 3 to 11 and provided that this does not significantly distort competition, Member States with difficulties in implementing the new minimum levels of taxation shall be allowed a transitional period until 1 January 2007, particularly in order to avoid jeopardising price stability. 3. The Czech Republic may apply total or partial exemptions or reductions in the level of taxation of electricity, solid fuels and natural gas until 1 January 2008. 4. The Republic of Estonia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on gas oil used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 330 per 1 000 l. However, the level of taxation on gas oil used as propellant shall be no less than EUR 245 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004. The Republic of Estonia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on unleaded petrol used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 359 per 1 000 l. However, the level of taxation on unleaded petrol shall be no less than EUR 287 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004. The Republic of Estonia may apply a total exemption from taxation of oil shale until 1 January 2009. Until 1 January 2013, it may furthermore apply a reduced rate in the level of taxation of oil shale, provided that it does not result in taxation at below 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rate as from 1 January 2011. The Republic of Estonia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on shale oil used for district heating purposes to the minimum level of taxation. The Republic of Estonia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to convert its current input electricity taxation system into an output electricity taxation system. 5. The Republic of Latvia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2011 to adjust its national level of taxation on gas oil and kerosene used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 302 per 1 000 l and until 1 January 2013 to reach EUR 330. However, the level of taxation on gas oil and kerosene shall be no less than EUR 245 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004 and no less than EUR 274 per 1 000 l as from 1 January 2008. The Republic of Latvia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2011 to adjust its national level of taxation on unleaded petrol used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 359 per 1 000 l. However, the level of taxation on unleaded petrol cannot be less than EUR 287 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004 and no less than EUR 323 per 1 000 l as from 1 January 2008. The Republic of Latvia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on heavy fuel oil used for district heating purposes to the minimum level of taxation. The Republic of Latvia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on electricity to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. However, the level of taxation on electricity shall be no less than 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rates as from 1 January 2007. The Republic of Latvia may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2009 to adjust its national level of taxation on coal and coke to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. However, the level of taxation on coal and coke shall be no less than 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rates as from 1 January 2007. 6. The Republic of Lithuania may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2011 to adjust its national level of taxation on gas oil and kerosene used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 302 per 1 000 l and until 1 January 2013 to reach EUR 330. However, the level of taxation on gas oil and kerosene shall be no less than EUR 245 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004 and no less than EUR 274 per 1 000 l as from 1 January 2008. The Republic of Lithuania may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2011 to adjust its national level of taxation on unleaded petrol used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 359 per 1 000 l. However, the level of taxation on unleaded petrol shall be no less than EUR 287 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004 and no less than EUR 323 per 1 000 l as from 1 January 2008. 7. The Republic of Hungary may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on electricity, natural gas, coal and coke, used for district heating purposes, to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. 8. The Republic of Malta may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on electricity. However, the levels of taxation on electricity shall be no less than 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rates as from 1 January 2007. The Republic of Malta may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on gas oil and kerosene used as propellant to the minimum levels of EUR 330 per 1 000 l. However, the levels of taxation on gas oil and kerosene used as propellant shall be no less than EUR 245 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004. The Republic of Malta may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on unleaded petrol and leaded petrol used as propellant to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. However, the levels of taxation on unleaded petrol and leaded petrol shall be no less than EUR 287 per 1 000 l and EUR 337 per 1 000 l respectively as from 1 May 2004. The Republic of Malta may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on natural gas used as heating fuel to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. However, the effective tax rates applied to natural gas shall be no less than 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rates as from 1 January 2007. The Republic of Malta may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2009 to adjust its national level of taxation on solid fuel to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. However, the effective tax rates applied to the energy products concerned shall be no less than 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rates as from 1 January 2007. 9. The Republic of Poland may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2009 to adjust its national level of taxation on unleaded petrol used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 359 per 1 000 l. However, the level of taxation on unleaded petrol shall be no less than EUR 287 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004. The Republic of Poland may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on gas oil used as propellant to the new minimum level of EUR 302 per 1 000 l and until 1 January 2012 to reach EUR 330. However, the level of taxation on gas oil shall be no less than EUR 245 per 1 000 l as from 1 May 2004 and no less than EUR 274 per 1 000 l as from 1 January 2008. The Republic of Poland may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2008 to adjust its national level of taxation on heavy fuel oil to the new minimum level of EUR 15 per 1 000 kg. However, the level of taxation on heavy fuel oil shall be no less than EUR 13 per 1 000 kg as from 1 May 2004. The Republic of Poland may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2012 to adjust its national level of taxation on coal and coke used for district heating to the relevant minimum level of taxation. The Republic of Poland may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2012 to adjust its national level of taxation on coal and coke used for heating purposes other than district heating to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. The Republic of Poland may, until 1 January 2008, apply total or partial exemptions or reductions for gas oil used as heating fuel by schools, nursery schools and other public utilities, in respect of the activities or transactions in which they engage as public authorities. The Republic of Poland may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2006 to align its electricity taxation system with the Community framework. 10. The Republic of Slovenia may apply, under fiscal control, total or partial exemption from or reduction in the level of taxation to natural gas. The total or partial exemption or reduction may apply until May 2014 or until the national share of natural gas in final energy consumption reaches 25 %, whichever is the sooner. However, as soon as the national share of natural gas in final energy consumption reaches 20 %, it shall apply a strictly positive level of taxation, which shall increase on a yearly basis in order to reach at least the minimum rate at the end of the period referred to above. 11. The Slovak Republic may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2010 to adjust its national level of taxation on electricity and natural gas used as heating fuel to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. However, the level of taxation on electricity and natural gas used as heating fuel shall be no less than 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rates as from 1 January 2007. The Slovak Republic may apply a transitional period until 1 January 2009 to adjust its national level of taxation on solid fuels to the relevant minimum levels of taxation. However, the level of taxation on solid fuels shall be no less than 50 % of the relevant Community minimum rates as from 1 January 2007. 12. Within the transitional periods established, Member States shall progressively reduce their respective gaps with regard to the new minimum levels of taxation. However, where the difference between the national level and the minimum level does not exceed 3 % of that minimum level, the Member State concerned may wait until the end of the period to adjust its national level’.