Energy suppliers: France rejects “super-taxes

Faced with a growing deficit, France is clarifying its position on taxing energy companies, ruling out any excessive austerity.

Share:

taxation superprofits entreprises énergétiques

The issue of taxing the “super-profits” made by energy companies has become central to the French public debate. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, stressed the need to consider an exceptional contribution from these companies. This proposal echoes the growing concern about the worsening public deficit. However, this idea quickly met with opposition from the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire.

Bruno Le Maire’s firm stance

Bruno Le Maire has clearly stated his refusal to increase the tax burden on energy companies beyond a targeted recovery of profits. The Minister insisted that the current economic policy, deemed effective, should not be altered. He also rejected the idea of raising taxes for citizens, considering it a simplistic and inadequate solution. His position aims to preserve an economic line without giving in to the “ease” of tax hikes.

Critical management of public finances

The revelation of a possible increase in the public deficit to 5.6% of GDP, against the 4.9% forecast, has highlighted the challenges of budget management in France. This situation was highlighted by Senator Jean-François Husson’s analysis, underlining the urgent need to address the financial slippage. Minister Le Maire responded to this concern by rejecting austerity and calling for fiscal responsibility. His approach rejects the “laissez-faire” approach to public spending, while avoiding severe austerity measures.

Long-term government objectives

The government’s commitment to bringing the deficit below 3% of GDP by 2027 remains unshaken despite the current circumstances. The Minister of the Economy stressed the importance of meeting financial targets without compromising economic growth. The strategy adopted includes reducing inefficient public spending. This commitment reflects the government’s determination to stabilize public finances, a task deemed crucial to France’s economic future.

Bruno Le Maire reaffirmed the government’s position, which is neither austerity nor complacency, but responsible management of public finances. This philosophy aims to navigate through economically turbulent times while preserving budgetary solidity. Targeted cuts in public spending are presented as a means of returning to a manageable deficit. The Minister’s vision is clear: achieve a balanced budget while supporting French economic growth.

Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.
French greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a global slowdown in reductions forecast for the full year, according to Citepa, an independent organisation responsible for national monitoring.
The Republican budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for renewable energies, favoring fossil fuels and raising economic concerns among solar and wind industry professionals.
Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.