The request was built in a joint letter signed by Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, the federal ministers of Finance of Austria and Germany, the Minister of Economy and Finance of Italy, and the Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business of Spain
The European Commission declared this Monday that it is analyzing the request from Portugal, Germany, Spain, Italy and Austria to create a tax on extraordinary profits from energy companies, although highlighting that the situation differs from the 2022 energy crisis.
“We have received the letter. We are currently analyzing it and will respond in due time”, states an official source from the community executive in a written response sent to the Lusa agency, following a letter sent to Brussels by the Portuguese Minister of Finance, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, and his German, Spanish, Italian and Austrian counterparts.
According to the spokesperson, “more generally, the Commission is working closely with Member States on possible tarobtained policy measures in response to the current energy crisis facing Europe”.
“Although we are not in the same situation, it is important to take into account the lessons learned from 2022, including the temporary EU solidarity contribution”, adds the same official source, without specifying.
The Portuguese Finance Minister and his counterparts from Germany, Spain, Italy and Austria inquireed Brussels to create, at European Union (EU) level, a tax on extraordinary profits from energy companies, similar to the measures to contain the 2022 energy crisis.
The request was built in a joint letter signed by Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, the federal ministers of Finance of Austria (Markus Marterbauer) and Germany (Lars Klingbeil), the Minister of Economy and Finance of Italy (Giancarlo Giorobtainti) and the Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business of Spain, Carlos Cuerpo.
The letter, dated April 3, was addressed to the European Commissioner for Climate, Carbon Neutrality and Clean Growth, the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra.
“Given current market distortions and budobtainary constraints, the European Commission must quickly develop a similar contribution instrument” to the temporary solidarity contribution established in 2022.
In 2022, following the energy crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine, European Union Energy Ministers approved measures that provided for a 33% tax on the excess profits of fossil fuel companies that would be converted “into a solidarity contribution” to be redistributed to the most vulnerable, a maximum ceiling on the profits of low-cost (renewable) electricity producers and plans to reduce electricity consumption.
Now, the five signatory ministers point out that a similar contribution must be established on an EU scale, “based on a solid legal basis”.
The ministers state that this work would create it possible to finance temporary relief measures, particularly for consumers, and halt the rise in inflation without overburdening public budobtains.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a military offensive against Tehran, which retaliated with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route for the oil market, and attacks against Israel, North American bases and other infrastructure in countries in the region such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Oman and Iraq.
The current situation has caapplyd an increase in the prices of oil and other raw materials.
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