Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Portugal and Spain are urging the EU to discuss the measure at a meeting of finance ministers in Dublin next month, according to a draft letter seen by AFP.
The letter states that “Oil companies are enjoying overall profitability and margins on refined products that exceed the rise in crude oil prices”.
“We are experiencing one of the biggest supply shocks in decades and all over the world there is growing discontent about the rise in the cost of living,” it adds.
The finance ministers of Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland and Portugal, along with Spain’s economy minister, sent the joint letter to Ireland’s finance minister, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.
The ministers urged the EU to add a levy on oil companies to the agenda of next month’s meeting of EU finance chiefs in Dublin.
The countries called for discussions on an EU-wide framework to tax windfall profits.
A windfall tax is imposed on companies or sectors that record unusually large profits, often during wars or other unforeseen circumstances.
Energy giants have reported massive earnings since the US and Israeli regime launched an illegal war against Iran in February, severely disrupting shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz transit route.
Despite the pressure from the six countries, the EU has not indicated plans to introduce a new levy on oil companies.