The French Senate has approved a new tax for cruise operations across France, according to a report by Le Figaro.

Voted on Monday, the new measure calls for every cruise passenger to pay a fee of 15 euros per stop in the country.

While the law was green-lighted by senators, its draft will continue to be discussed by the French Parliament through mid-December, the French newspaper added.

Le Figaro noted that the tax is intended to finance the protection and enhancement of the national coastlines.

The measure, which reportedly passed by a narrow margin, is expected to bring an annual revenue of over 75 million euros to the country’s government.

The news source reported that the tax was introduced by senators as a means to offset the “particularly heavy externalities” of cruise operations on coastal and port areas.

Jean-Mar Délia was quoted as saying that cruise ships’ annual CO2 emissions are comparable to those of one billion vehicles.

He argued that similar measures are already in place in other countries, both in Europe and on other continents.

Délia added that the new tax is not expected to harm France’s attractiveness within the cruise industry.

France is a major destination for cruise ships sailing in Europe, with popular ports of call in both the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The country also plays an important role in global operations, with its overseas territories, such as Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Polynesia, also welcoming a large number of ships.

It’s unclear if the newly approved cruise tax will be applicable in all of the French territories around the world.

The measure faced opposition from the country’s Minister of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, who argued that the project’s wording did not differentiate between cruise ships and ferries.

In related news, France’s Côte d’Azur region recently approved a bill that restricts cruise activity in its destinations.

Presented in October, the new policy limits the number of ships that can operate in the region while also implementing capacity caps for vessels.