The German government and European Commission are holding informal talks about a type of European solidarity tax to help cover the costs of stemming a record-breaking influx of asylum seekers, a German newspaper reported on Saturday. The money could be raised through a surcharge on petroleum tax or by increasing Value Added Tax (VAT), the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported without citing its source. The Munich paper said additional funds from a solidarity tax would be used to help EU member states, such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, secure their borders, as well as to help improve living condition in the home countries of asylum seekers to encourage their citizens to remain there.