La France plaide pour 60 milliards d’euros de nouvelles taxes européennes

France is pushing for the introduction of new European Union taxes that would raise more than €60 billion, according to three unnamed European diplomats privy to confidential budget talks. The French permanent representative to the EU, Philippe Léglise‑Costa, told colleagues that this figure represents a “high threshold” for most member states, underscoring Paris’s role as the leading advocate for the so‑called “own resources” that would fund the EU’s long‑term budget. The French position is seen as crucial for reaching a multiyear financial framework before the end of the year, a deadline that precedes national elections in France, Italy, Poland and Spain that could jeopardise the negotiations.

The proposed taxes are part of a broader EU effort to generate additional revenue for priorities such as defence and competitiveness while easing the burden on national contributions. The European Commission’s July 2025 proposal outlined five new levies capable of delivering up to €66 billion, but many member states have resisted the specifics. While most governments favour new own‑resource streams, they remain wary of the concrete measures on the table. The Irish‑led Council presidency aims to trim the list of acceptable resources ahead of an October 15 summit, and Dublin has announced a “consensus” on taxes targeting foreign polluters through a carbon‑border adjustment mechanism and electronic waste, projected to yield €1.64 billion and €17.9 billion annually between 2028 and 2034.

Other tax ideas—such as levies on tobacco, corporate turnover and revenues from the EU emissions‑trading system—have encountered opposition from several countries, according to an Irish note cited by POLITICO. The Commission is reportedly considering adjustments to increase overall revenue beyond initial estimates, but the lack of agreement on these contentious proposals threatens France’s ambition to secure a substantial €60 billion contribution, especially as domestic political pressures mount with Marine Le Pen leading the presidential polls and calling for a halving of France’s EU budget payments.

⚡ Effects Interpreter