IntroductionThe issues of sustainable development may be raised and answered on the universal level. Any human is able to contribute to his or her living environment and the living environment of their descendants. Each human being must act in the way that does not harm future generations. Three key dimensions form the basis of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. Starting with oneself and aiming to develop sustainability, one faces certain challenges that may be addressed using certain measures. Environmental taxes are one of such measures. They may be referred to as a fiscal instrument that helps regulate the detrimental environmental impact.Majority of researchers (Murcott, 2003; Carson, 1962; Heinberg (2010); Ekins, 2012; Bey, 2001, Ciegis, 2009; Brink et al., 2014; Beurman et al., 2006; Ciuleviciene, Slavickiene, 2014 and others) have analysed the potential benefit of sustainability and environmental taxes and have suggested that introduction of environmental taxes is one of the best ways to reduce the environmental damage. The present environmental taxes and their impact do not present any particular effect on the economy. This is related to comparatively insignificant amounts of revenue generated by the environmental taxes that are insufficient to cover the costs of environmental protection.Environmental taxes regulating the interplay between economy and environment are the instruments of fiscal policy. Revenue generated by these taxes is allocated to stimulation of the sustainable economy based on conservation of nature, more environmentally friendly production. Such taxes lead to reduction of pollution and stimulate sustainable development of the national economy. They also influence changes in the national tax structure, i.e. increase the tax base that does not distort the market (taxes on goods and services causing negative environmental impact) and reduce the tax base that distorts the market (personal income tax, corporate income tax, etc.).Research object: environmental tax reforms in the EU countries.Research aim: to evaluate the experience of environmental tax reforms in the EU countries.The following objectives have been set out to achieve the research aim:• To provide theoretical reasoning for the links between sustainable development and environmental tax reform;• To evaluate the developments of environmental taxes in the EU countries, which have implemented the environmental tax reforms.Methods used: scientific literature analysis and summarisation, systemic reasoning, graphic systematisation of statistical data, summarisation and comparison.
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