The EESC has backed the Commission's proposal to make EU decision-making on energy and climate more democratic, specifically to move from unanimity to qualified majority voting on energy tax matters.

In its opinion adopted at the September plenary session and put together by Baiba Miltoviča and Dumitru Fornea, the EESC singled out energy taxation in particular as a field where a swift and more democratic voting system at EU level was needed, one where the European Parliament decides on an equal footing with the Council of the European Union.

This shift is key to amending the 2003 Energy Taxation Framework Directive and thus to completing the energy transition and achieving the 2030 energy and climate targets.

"Consumers have hardly benefited from the liberalisation of the energy market; they are not gaining their fair share from EU efforts in the field of energy," Ms Miltoviča pointed out. "On top of this, EU energy user charges are already very high. Approximately 40% of the final price of electricity paid by European consumers is made up of taxes and levies," she added.

Moving from unanimity to qualified majority is difficult in this case because it implies a transfer of sovereignty in the sensitive field of taxation. For that reason, Mr Fornea noted that "the transfer of sovereignty needs to go hand in hand with the development of a true Energy Union. Social equity is our priority. We have to be aware that any taxation on more polluting fuels could directly harm the weaker parts of society and be seen as an additional burden," he concluded. (mp)