The European Union is considering imposing tax at EU level on Windfall profit tax for companies oil and gas, stated Monday correspondent in Reuters the head of its tax office European Union.
The plans come at a time when governments are seeking resources to help citizens face the energy bills that have grown dramatically.
Oil and gas companies have obtained huge profits this year, as energy prices have been launched during the U.S. and Israel war with Iran, amid disturbances in shipping through the Straits of Hormuz and Iranian attacks against oil-producing Gulf countries.
In this respect, the Vopke Hookstra, European Commissioner for Climate and Taxation, said the Commission set up a working group to examine the advantages and disadvantages of such a tax and assess whether such a measure would be feasible.
«Citizens - and particularly vulnerable citizens - face dramatic increases in energy bills. Some companies actually earn excessive profits without providing any additional service or additional products. They reap the benefits of world turmoil», said Hookstra in an interview.
Add that «For many citizens and many politicians, this seems unfair... I think we all like reason behind this, no matter where the debate will lead».
It is recalled that the reference values of the contracts for the future fulfillment of crude Brent oil They rose to a high of many years - Near $120 a barrel - late April. Today, October 12, It's at $ 106.. Although they have since declined, they remain over 70% above their level at the beginning of the year, strengthening the profits of refining companies and oil producers.
Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland and Austria have invited the EU to consider imposing a tax on extraordinary profits at EU level.
Hookstra said Brussels will carefully assess the legal status of any possible measure.
The EU introduced a tax on extraordinary profits for oil, gas, coal and refining companies in 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused a rapid rise in energy prices.
However, legal proceedings remain pending, since companies, including ExxonMobil, argued that the measure was illegal, which Hookstra also admitted. «That is something we must also take into account.», said the European Commissioner.
The 2022 regime imposed minimum tax 33% on surplus profits, which defined as profits exceeding 20% of a company's average profits in previous years. According to a Commission report, the measure generated almost EUR 29 billion.
However, some EU countries have unilaterally introduced taxes on extraordinary profits. Among them Portugal, which imposed a 33% tax on extraordinary profits made in 2026 by oil and refining companies.
