Overview
- A coalition of Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Portugal and Spain sent a joint letter to Ireland’s EU Council presidency asking that a common windfall-tax framework for energy companies be placed on the finance ministers’ agenda for September.
- The request cites sharp profit gains tied to disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and reports that eight major oil firms posted about €7.5 billion in excess profits in Europe in the first half of 2026.
- The six countries want a framework modeled on the 2022 temporary 'solidarity contribution' but changed to capture profits that multinationals book abroad by closing geographic loopholes.
- Political obstacles are significant because the European Commission has not launched legislation and divisions exist inside key governments, notably between Germany’s finance minister, who supports the tax, and the chancellor, who opposes it.
- Industry groups warn repeated emergency levies could deter long-term energy investment and push activity out of the EU, while supporters point to the 2022 levy that raised roughly €26–28 billion and say revenue should be used for consumer relief.