“We don’t want to add an economic crisis to an energy crisis,” explained the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire. Present at the meetings of entrepreneurs in France, he took the opportunity to speak about the country’s energy situation and the possible efforts to be made a few months before winter. “It may be necessary to reduce energy consumption, at home, as in transport,” he said, adding “we must find other sources of supply for gas”.
For the Minister, rationing energy for companies should only come as a last resort: “We are going to organize the rationing of energy with companies if the winter should be harsh”. He nevertheless clarified that “rationing for businesses should only be the last resort”. He therefore calls on “the French to show restraint” in a context where the war between Ukraine and Russia continues, while gas supplies continue to decrease in France and throughout Europe.
Small disagreement within the government
Facing the assembled bosses, Bruno Le Maire asked to support households in the face of rising prices: “It is obvious that the burden of inflation must be fairly distributed”. In exchange for these efforts, the tenant of Bercy has promised the extension of the support fund for companies that consume a lot of gas and electricity for their activity. While it was to stop at the end of August, it will be extended until the end of December. The criteria for accessing this three billion euro envelope, intended to help companies struggling to meet their energy bills in a context of high inflation, will also be “simplified” and “lightened”, he added. .
The Bercy tenant also mentioned other subjects, such as the taxation of superprofits. According to him, there is no question of taxing companies that outperform in times of crisis. While emphasizing that some companies must make an effort, such as CMA-CGM or Total Energies: “I will receive insurers soon and I will ask them to make an effort on the insurance premiums of our compatriots. I will receive the banks and ask them again to make an effort on bank charges,” he said.
This weekend, in our pages, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne had however explained that she “did not close the door to tax superprofits”. However, in front of the Medef on Tuesday, the Minister of the Economy does not display the same intentions: “I do not know what it is that the superprofit. I know that businesses must be profitable. That’s all I know “. According to him, “taxing France more means producing less”.