Record EU Fuel Prices Prompt Calls for Bloc-Wide Windfall Tax on Energy Firms

European governments have discussed a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies as near-record fuel prices fuel public discontent and strengthen the far right ahead of elections next year in eight EU countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Poland. Germany's finance minister Lars Klingbeil urged the European Commission at a Dublin meeting of EU finance ministers to propose models by next month, accusing oil companies of "exploiting the situation" in the Middle East. Oil futures have risen back above $100 a barrel, roughly 50% above pre-Iran-war levels, and German diesel hit a record average of €2.45 a litre on Wednesday.