A scheme to levy a European-wide tax to fund lifting the world's poorest countries from poverty is winning broad support, European Union finance ministers said on Saturday. A special tax on EU air travel through a levy on aviation fuel is one proposal that has strong backing, said EU finance ministers' leader Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg. The topic of funding development aid will be a centrepiece of their summit in May as top industrial nations seek ways to drive forward their promise to lift Africa from poverty, Juncker said after the G7 pledged to increase debt relief. "I have the knowledge that most of the EU finance ministers are in favour of taxation of kerosene in order to bring further aid and funding to our development policy," Juncker said at a G7 news briefing. France's finance minister Herve Gaymard also said he was confident of quick action by Europe on a special tax -- though not necessarily on aviation fuel. "I feel there is a will in Europe to move quickly, but I am not able to say what form of taxation will be accepted," Gaymard said at a separate G7 news briefing. --More 0002 Local Time 2102 GMT
