Brussels – EU governments are meeting on 18 and 19 June in Brussels to discuss the EU’s next long-term budget for the years 2028-2034, and how to fund it.

Greenpeace is calling for the EU to introduce new taxes on the super rich and on fossil fuel company profits, to be used to boost the EU’s transition away from fossil fuels, protect vulnerable communities around the world against climate impacts and to help households with skyrocketing energy bills.

Ariadna Rodrigo, Greenpeace EU political campaigner, said: “For too long, EU governments have let those responsible for spiking energy prices and cost of living, and the climate and nature crisis, avoid paying for the damage they do. A permanent extra tax on fossil fuel company profits and on the super rich can fund preparations for the heatwaves, floods and storms heading our way, and help households get off oil and gas to bring their bills down. The new EU budget is a chance to make polluters and billionaires pay their fair share, and relieve the pressure on ordinary people.” 

Greenpeace is calling for these new revenues to be used to reduce energy poverty, support renewables and strengthen Europe’s resilience against future energy shocks and climate impacts. Additionally, revenues should be used to significantly boost Europe’s public finance provisions to developing countries as part of the EU’s international climate finance obligations under the UNFCCC.

Greenpeace is also calling on EU governments to:

  • Eliminate fossil fuels subsidies at the EU and national level, and redirect funding to renewables, home insulation, heat pumps and electricity grids, affordable and better public transport – starting with energy-poor households. Maintaining untargeted and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies discourages renewable energy investments and benefits wealthy households, while keeping the EU reliant on oil and gas imports and vulnerable to supply shocks. 
  • Increase green mainstreaming in the EU budget to 50%, earmarking 10% of funds for nature and applying the “do no significant harm” principle across the entire EU budget;
  • Earmark EU budget to allow for the just transition of those EU regions with workers and communities employed by the fossil fuel industry and its supply chain, following the phase out of the Just Transition Fund; 

Contacts:

Ariadna Rodrigo, Greenpeace EU political campaigner: +32 (0)479 99 69 22, [email protected]

Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, [email protected]

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Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.

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