A majority of MPs have voted for a motion which requires the government to investigate winding down tax benefits for companies which use large amounts of fossil fuels.

The CDA voted on Tuesday in favour of the motion, which means the plan, drawn up by GroenLinks, D66 and the pro-animal PvdD, has majority backing in the lower house of parliament.

Extinction Rebellion halted its daily A12 blockade last week because of the pending vote. “This shows that civil disobedience works,” a spokeswoman told broadcaster NOS.

She confirmed that if the motion is accepted, the protests will not resume but said that “we will keep a close eye on what politicians do and how the minister implements the plan.”

The motion calls on officials to draw up several scenarios for phasing out the tax breaks within two to seven years before the end of the year. By that time, there will have been a general election and parliament will have a different look.

The SP, ChristenUnie and Volt also support the plan.

Economic affairs ministry figures show industry that uses oil, gas and coal benefits by up to €46.4 billion a year from lower taxes, government investment and other indirect subsidies.

The government figures, drawn up by climate minister Rob Jetten’s department, say steel makers, inland shipping, horticulture, oil refineries and coal-fired power stations all benefit from lower taxes, and that the benefits increase the more fossil fuels they use. 

Jetten has already warned that not all the tax breaks can be removed within a seven year period.