The EU Commission rejects it that demanded by Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD). Excess profits tax. “The Commission currently has no plans to introduce excess profits taxes and we will not speculate on whether or not such measures will be introduced in the future,” said a Commission spokeswoman. With the help of one Excess profits tax Excessive crisis profits would be skimmed off by energy companies.
For a decision to impose such a levy at EU level, all member states would have to agree, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said on Wednesday. The Commission does not currently see this. However, the member states could already rely on their national fiscal powers and tax excess profits, the Commission also announced.
Klingbeil, together with the finance and economics ministers from Austria, Italy, Portugal and Spain, spoke out in favor of an excess profits tax on excessive crisis profits. Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU) criticized the move.
The excess profits tax is one of several proposed relief proposals for consumers. As a result of the Iran war, energy prices, especially gasoline and diesel, have risen sharply.