NAIROBI, Nov 16: France on Thursday stood by a controversial proposal to impose an EU-wide carbon tax on countries that refuse to join the Kyoto Protocol from 2012, and said the scheme had been warmly welcomed by many countries.

Environment Minister Nelly Olin told reporters at UN climate talks here that France was drafting a memorandum on the proposal and would submit it to fellow members of the EU “in early 2007.” “But I think that, from the contacts we have had over the past few days following the prime minister's statements, I am happy to report that... many countries seem decided to follow us and we have received I would say a certain amount of encouragement,” she said.—AFP