The meeting of the Council of Ministers moved to Monday, December 23, as a consequence of the holiday that is celebrated on Tuesday the 24th, promises to be long and intense due to the large number of issues that will be discussed on the agenda. At that meeting, the approval of a package of economic and social measures is planned that includes, among other chapters, the increase in taxes on diesel, the extension of the tax on energy companies for its subsequent repeal, the expansion of the so-called ‘anti-takeover shield’ (the prerogative that the Government has to veto possible foreign investments that compromise security or strategic autonomy) or the revaluation of contributory pensions.
with which the Executive plans to raise around 1,500 million euros per year, aims to eliminate the bonus that diesel benefits from compared to gasoline and is one of the conditions set by Brussels to unlock the fifth payment of the European funds, requested last Friday. The Government trusts that it will go ahead in the subsequent parliamentary procedure and that it will not happen like in 2021, in which the tax increase was overturned by the vote against Podemos.
The Executive also wants to end it, which will last for two years until 2025 begins. Basic foods have benefited from this reduction, such as bread, eggs, vegetables, fruits or olive oil and starting next year, the type super-reduced tax that will return to 4%, since the hyperinflation that caused its approval has been attenuating in recent quarters.
Another issue that will be discussed will be the extension of the shielding of strategic companies, known as the anti-takeover shield. The measure leaves it in the hands of the Government to authorize foreign investments in listed strategic companies in which the aim is to exceed 10% of the capital, as well as in unlisted companies in which the investment exceeds 500 million euros. The latest official figures, however, show that a total of 264 operations were studied.
Finally, the Council of Ministers also plans to approve a royal decree-law that includes the revaluation of pensions from the Social Security system, Passive Classes and other public benefits by 2025, with a 2.8% increase in the pensions. contributory pensions. who receive 10.3 million contributory pensions, in addition to the 720,148 pensions corresponding to the State Passive Classes Regime.
