EU countries push back against plan to tax gas more heavily than electricity
At a meeting in Luxembourg, 13 countries including Germany, Italy and Bulgaria rejected the Commission's proposal. Opposition is even stronger to common EU rules on grid charges.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
The European Commission wants electricity to be taxed more favorably than natural gas to lower energy bills and encourage households and businesses to switch from fossil fuels to electricity. At a meeting of energy ministers in Luxembourg on Thursday, however, 13 countries opposed the idea, including Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Czechia, Hungary and Finland. Spain, Denmark and Luxembourg backed the Commission but asked for flexibility. France wants the measure tied to specific circumstances such as a gas crisis.
Several countries argue that tax matters belong in the ongoing revision of the Energy Taxation Directive, which requires unanimity. The Commission instead proposes a decision by qualified majority. Opposition is even fiercer to a plan for Brussels to set common rules for calculating grid charges. Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and Finland say this would undermine the independence of national regulators.
"Member states must retain sufficient flexibility to reflect their national circumstances," said Finland's representative Mika Nykänen. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen defended the proposal: "We should not deprive our consumers and industries of the benefits of this proposal." The Irish Council presidency is seeking a compromise on grid charges by December. Meanwhile, the European gas price rose above 100 euros per megawatt-hour for the first time since 2022.