Skopje, 2 February 2023 (MIA) - Companies, probably from all sectors, which generated more profits than the average in the last 3-4 years during the energy crisis, will be covered by the so-called solidarity tax, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi said Thursday.

The assessment of which legal entities will pay such an additional tax will go through the Public Revenue Office, i.e. through the submission of the final accounts.

According to Bekteshi, details in regard to the law on solidary tax, which was greenlighted by the government on Wednesday, will be revealed on Friday or Saturday at the latest by the Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi.

“As the Ministry of Economy, we fully support this legal solution, especially as we called for solidarity, especially from the companies that were more profitable during the energy crisis. The law on solidarity tax is in this regard, which is based on average profitability of the 3-4 years. If we know that the EU has provided EUR 80 million for our country to tackle the energy crisis, certainly, we should show commitment and those who generated more profits should pay more compared to those who were fully supported by the state in order to survive and to keep the workers,” Bekteshi explained.

According to him, the tax will most likely cover the energy companies that were established last year, especially the companies in the supply of oil and oil derivatives.

“Of course, those who produce electricity will also be covered taking into account that most of the small hydropower plants, certain electricity producers that had feed-in tariffs, decided to give up the feed-in tariffs which were EUR 180 per MWh in the section of small hydropower plants, in order to move to the free market so they can gain larger profits. I think that most of those companies are socially responsible and will help the economy, and especially the citizens, and will fully support this government’s decision,” Bekteshi said.