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Fuel prices have been soaring across the European Union this month, but it’s not just the war in Iran that is to blame for the painful increase. Alongside the market-driven rise due to the conflict, the tax component has been playing a role, too, exacerbating the sting in many countries, including Germany. Tax forms over 50% of pump prices in the EU Prices of gasoline and diesel have risen significantly in Europe since the U.S. and Israel launched their military operation against Iran at the end of February. But the rising cost of crude oil is not the sole reason for the increase as taxation is responsible for a large portion of the final prices at gas stations across the Old Continent. Taxes account for more than half of the fuel bills overall and they explain why drivers in some member states pay more than in others, Euronews noted in a report on Friday. While the over $100 per barrel of Brent are felt by everybody, taxes like VAT, excise duties and other specific levies determine the final cost in each individual case. These charges make up 52.1% of the price of regular gas, Eurosuper 95, and 44.5% of that of diesel, on average in the EU, according to fuel data compiled by the European Commission. Taxes have the smallest share in Bulgaria, Spain and Hungary – 43.9, 45 and 45.2% – and the largest in Finland, Ireland and Slovenia – 57.2, 57.3 and 57.8%, respectively. In 20 member states, total taxes account for more than 50% of the price of petrol. Among the Union’s biggest economies, Italy leads with 55%, followed by Germany and France, with 54.5% and 53%. The tax rankings differ between petrol and diesel, the authors of the study point out, and the burden is generally…

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Filed under: News - @ March 20, 2026 11:24 pm