New taxes and fees in Europe in 2026 The European Union does not want to raise taxes directly, so they sprinkle the system with small fees that add up to the same amount. It's idiotic and the people do nothing. Look at this EU rule:
- CBAM (carbon border tax) on imports of steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, hydrogen and electricity, from January 1.
- A duty of 3 euros per type of item on packages under 150 euros, starting from July 1st.
- €2 handling fee per item type for online orders outside the EU, from November 1st.
- ETS (EU Carbon Trading): Airlines lose all free allowances, shipping is now also covered for methane and nitrous oxide by country:.
- Austria: €2 tax per package for sellers with more than €100 million in sales in Austria, starting October 1st.
- Belgium: 10% capital gains tax on financial assets, first €10,000 per year tax-free, starting January 1st.
- France: 2 euro tax on small packages (March 1 to July 1) and a 20% tax on non-business assets of family holding companies.
- Germany: Freiburg packaging tax, €0.50 per cup or disposable container, starting January 1st.
- Netherlands: truck toll per km, 0.025 EUR to 0.487 EUR per km, from July 1 - Poland: 1% copyright levy on smartphones, computers and memory cards, from November 13.
- Romania: 25 lei (about 5 euros) per package outside the EU, from January 1 to October 31.
- Spain: Barcelona's tourist tax has been doubled, up to 12 euros per person per night, from April 1.
- Great Britain: Edinburgh visitor tax (5% of room price), duty on vapors (£2.20 per 10 ml), travel permit from £16 to £20.