If the word tax is not used, it should be a compulsory contribution imposed on companies in the energy sector, intended to lighten the price of electricity paid by households and businesses.
Le Monde with AFP
The political debate about superprofits is essaying in several countries in Europe. Germany wants the exceptional profits made by certain energy companies thanks to the surge in market prices will be used to relieve household invoices, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday September 4
In the document presenting a new massive aid plan against inflation, the German government said it will argue so that a “partial levy of the random profits” of these companies are implemented in the Cadre of the European Union, but says it is ready to act at the national level. “Producers simply take advantage of the very high gas prices that determine the price of electricity,” deplored the chancellor during a press conference. 2> “Controversial idea”
The reform desired by Berlin is however distinguished from the taxation of the exceptional profits made by the energy groups, decided by certain governments in Europe, underlined the Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner. The government discussed this “controversial idea”, but “there are constitutional reserves on this subject,” added the leader of the liberals, strongly opposed to the principle of a tax. He explained on Sunday that it was “not a source of income that can be planned and which makes it possible to organize a rapid reduction in household bills.
If the word tax is not used, it should be a compulsory contribution imposed on companies in the energy sector intended to lighten the price of electricity paid by households and businesses. This compulsory contribution could report “several tens of billions of euros”, said the Minister of Finance.
The contribution “is not in any way of taxation”, according to Bercy
The Ministry of the French Economy estimated on Sunday that the “contribution” of energy that Germany promised to support at European level was “absolutely not” a tax, in a message sent to journalists. “Germany is implementing a compulsory contribution from companies that benefit from the price of gas while they produce electricity from coal, nuclear or renewable energies,” we say in Paris.
“This is exactly what France does with renewable energies or in another way with [the energy company] EDF by increasing the volume of Arenh [regulated access to historic nuclear electricity]”, judge Bercy. “The mechanisms are not necessarily the same, but the logic is (…) and it is in no way of the taxation”, tried to argue the ministry, while the calls to tax the exceptional profits of large companies As totaling or CMA-CGM have been multiplying since this summer in France.
From the left, the idea of taxing the superprofits of multinationals is firmly fought by the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, while the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, does not “close the door” As a last resort.
Diversification of supply sources
Bercy’s reaction comes a few hours after the presentation by Germany of a plan of 65 billion euros intended to mitigate the effects of inflation. The rise in prices has indeed reached in Germany 7.9 % over a year in August.
Germany is confronted, like all EU countries, for a surge in electricity prices and fears for its energy supply due to the drying up of Russian gas, of which its industry is particularly dependent. Despite the prolonged judgment of the North Stream gas pipeline which links Russia to the north of Germany, the country “will be able to face this winter,” said Chancellor Scholz.
“Russia is no longer a reliable energy supplier (…). The federal government has prepared for this possibility from the start of the year,” said the manager, stressing that thanks to the Diversification of sources of supply, at the restoration of coal power plants and the filling of gas stocks, the country was in a position to face the coming months.