Europeans Demand Minimum Tax for Multinationals and Wealthy

A recent Eurobarometer survey reveals a significant shift in European public opinion toward taxation, indicating strong support for a minimum tax on large multinational corporations and the wealthiest individuals. The findings show that a majority of EU citizens are receptive to policies aimed at creating a fairer and more environmentally responsible tax system.

According to the survey conducted in 2024, approximately 80% of respondents believe that large multinational companies should be subject to a minimum tax in every country where they operate. Furthermore, nearly 65% of participants support the introduction of a tax specifically targeting the wealthiest individuals, defined as the top 0.001% of earners, to ensure that they contribute a minimum level of taxes. The highest levels of support for this measure are found in Hungary, Bulgaria, and Croatia, where 78%, 71%, and 71% of respondents, respectively, are in favor.

Concerns persist among those opposing such taxes, primarily revolving around issues of competitiveness, investment, and the potential for capital flight. Despite these fears, public sentiment on fairness in the tax system is strikingly low. Only 20% of EU citizens believe that tax contributions in their country are proportional to income and wealth “to a large extent.” Countries like Finland and Luxembourg are perceived as having fairer tax systems, while Latvia, Czechia, Lithuania, and Poland rank lower in terms of perceived fairness.

Support for increased taxes is also evident among those advocating for improved public services. Nearly half of these respondents would initially focus on raising taxes on tobacco and alcohol products. Additionally, one-third indicated a preference for increasing taxes on investment income, such as interest or rent.

Environmental concerns further shape public opinion, with nearly 60% of EU citizens favoring fiscal measures designed to discourage the use of environmentally harmful goods and polluting energy sources. A significant number prioritize taxes on non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle products, followed closely by plastics and greenhouse gas emissions.

When it comes to taxation priorities for the EU, combating tax avoidance and evasion emerges as the top concern. The report highlights that these issues cost member states billions of euros annually. The second priority identified is the need to prevent double taxation among EU countries.

Taxation remains a critical source of revenue, with nearly 90% of national government revenues in the EU derived from taxes. As public support for reforms grows, the EU may be faced with the challenge of balancing economic competitiveness with the demand for a fairer tax system that addresses both wealth inequality and environmental sustainability.