The government has made its position clear: it opposes the European Commission’s plan to require uniform gas reductions across all member states if Russia threatens to curb supplies without considering each country’s dependence on Russian gas. A briefing from Spain to Brussels and the other EU capitals, coordinated ahead of the Council of Energy Ministers, reveals that Madrid is not alone in resisting a one-size-fits-all approach. Pedro Sánchez’s administration is supported by key energy players who see the move as a potential new billionaire tax aimed at bolstering public revenue at the expense of the sector. The clash underscores a broader debate about how to shield households and industries from energy price volatility while maintaining competitive markets in Europe’s energy landscape.
The European Commission has proposed that all countries voluntarily cut gas consumption by 15 percent by next March, with a reduced target of 10 percent for nations with limited interconnections or those already supplying energy to other EU states. A blanket reduction could become mandatory if Russia abruptly halts gas deliveries. Sánchez has publicly rejected this mandate and has criticized domestic employers in the gas and oil sectors for backing the Commission’s plan.
Representatives of the Spanish Gas Association (Sedigás) have reiterated Madrid’s stance, stressing that Spain does not support a general restriction on consumption for households or Spanish industrial users. They align with the government in urging Brussels to avoid a linear, country-neutral reduction, taking into account each nation’s exposure to Russian gas, current gas uptake infrastructure, and the existing interconnections across Europe. Spain’s network includes six regasification plants and accounts for a significant portion of EU capacity, highlighting how different national contexts shape what a uniform cut could mean in practice.
Before the European Commission formalized its proposal, influential players in the energy sector—including the Petroleum Operators Association (AOP) and large oil groups such as Repsol, Cepsa, BP, and Galp—made their opposition clear. In letters addressed to Teresa Ribera, the Vice President and Minister for the Ecological Transition, these companies urged the Spanish government to resist the plan to enforce equal cuts across all EU countries. Their stance reflects concerns that a one-size-fits-all rule would overlook structural differences in supply security and grid capacity between member states.
The government and many energy firms appear to favor a shared approach within the European Union’s emergency framework that emphasizes resilience rather than uniformity. Madrid is advocating for measures that sustain gas exports to Europe, boost efficiency, and encourage voluntary savings within the Spanish market. In return, the idea is to avoid compulsory reductions that would apply equally to every country, regardless of specific risk exposure. This stance seeks to balance the short-term shocks of price spikes with longer-term energy security and market stability.
4,000 million taxes
The administration is moving toward a temporary tax on major energy groups designed to finance measures aimed at cooling inflation’s impact on households and businesses. As announced by President Pedro Sánchez during the State of the Nation debate, the plan targets extraordinary profits earned by electricity, gas, and oil companies during the price surge driven by the energy crisis. The tax is framed as a temporary measure to dampen price pressures while maintaining the reliability of energy supply.
The government intends to apply the new levy to large energy companies with annual revenues exceeding 1,000 million euros, with a total revenue target of 4,000 million euros over the plan’s duration. The scheme is designed to recoup a portion of profits generated in a high-price environment and to fund domestic relief measures. The list of companies covered is expected to include major players such as Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy, EDP, Repsol, Cepsa, and BP Spain, reflecting the plan’s broad reach across the energy market.