We, together with a coalition of 30 European NGOs, have sent a joint letter to the European Commission calling for the introduction of an EU-wide windfall profit mechanism in response to the current energy crisis. In a context of rising fossil fuel import costs and escalating geopolitical tensions, and while major fossil fuel companies are recording extraordinary excess profits, we urge the Commission to reintroduce and strengthen a coordinated solidarity contribution at EU level, building on Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854. This mechanism should ensure a fair contribution from those benefiting most from the crisis, expand its scope to include international companies operating in the European market, and generate revenues to support vulnerable households, industry and the clean energy transition, in line with the EU’s climate and energy security objectives.
At Salud por Derecho, we also highlight the need to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate electrification from a public health perspective. Electrification is not only a matter of strategic autonomy, it is also essential to protect people’s health. If 80% of Europe’s energy came from renewable sources, premature deaths could be reduced by around 6% for stroke, 5% for COPD and approximately 4% for lung cancer. In addition, the decarbonisation process has already contributed to a significant reduction in mortality linked to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the EU between 2005 and 2020.
We also underline the health benefits of electrifying transport. Electrifying 30% of last-mile delivery trucks could reduce deaths linked to traffic-related air pollution by around 24%, while in long-distance freight transport the health damage would be up to 90% lower compared to diesel vehicles. These health benefits could be up to six times greater if electrification is combined with the promotion of active transport.
To make these policies possible, we stress that the next EU budget must be more ambitious and aligned with public health objectives. This means ending EU spending that harms health, prohibiting the financing of fossil fuels, and strictly applying the “do no significant harm” principle across the entire budget.
You can read the full letter below.
