CD&V Deputy Prime Minister Vincent Van Peteghem wants to go far less in skimming excess profits in the energy sector than the proposal presented by Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen).
“If we put something on the table, it can’t be destroyed by a court two months later,” he said Saturday before the federal government’s budget conclave begins.
For some time there has been talk of skimming the excess profits of energy producers. More than a week ago, Europe proposed such a mechanism. Minister Van der Straeten then put his proposal on the table. It would value 4.7 billion euros: 1.8 billion euros this year and 2.9 billion euros next year, even if revenues for 2023 depend on the evolution of the market.
The green proposal goes much further than what Europe had proposed, although invariably we hear that Europe also allows it. For example, for electricity companies, all income above the limit of 130 euros per megawatt hour would be taxed at 100 percent. Europe proposes a ceiling of 180 euros per megawatt hour. Furthermore, it would apply for two years, while the European regulation is for seven months.
Groen’s president, Jeremie Vaneeckhout, told Radio 1 this morning that he hopes there will soon be a consensus within the government “but apparently there are some monsieurs at the table who are more concerned about Engie’s profit than about the people’s account “.
He also said his minister’s plan is “fairly moderate and robust,” which Van Peteghem questions.
Finance Minister Van Peteghem clearly wants to go less far than his energy colleague Van der Straeten. Entering 16 Rue de la Loi before the start of the budget conclave, he noted on Saturday morning that Europe’s proposal provides a “very clear legal framework” and that he is ready to skim the excess profits into that framework. “I’ve always said that if we put something on the table, we have to make sure it doesn’t get destroyed by a court within two weeks or two months,” Van Peteghem said. This would bring in far less money, money that the government could use to support the budget.
He also wants the political statement that Prime Minister Alexander De Croo reads in the House on Tuesday to talk about his tax reform. Before the summer, Van Peteghem came up with a blueprint for such a reform. “Tax reform is on the table. The discussion is ongoing within the government. I have always said that this budget should also cover the reforms we can do in the next period, “he said. ‘Today we see that people feel that work no longer pays off. We need to ensure that work pays off effectively.’
