Huge discrepancies in the final price of fuel between the member states of the European Union are revealed by official data, with national taxes (VAT and Excise Duty) emerging as the ultimate regulator of accuracy. Statistical analysis of the data shows that in many countries, consumers pay more money in taxes than for the product itself.
Based on official data from the latest European Weekly Oil Bulletin, Fileleftheros follows the comparison of which countries impose the highest and lowest tax burden on fuel. Prices for all countries have a reference date of 28-9-2026.
The Greek paradox of gasoline
According to the analysis of the data, the biggest paradox is found in Greece. It has one of the lowest "net" pre-tax prices in Europe of €1,062.89, but the final price at the pump skyrockets to €2,205.00 (6th most expensive in the EU). Taxes in Greece account for 51.1% of the final price, which is the highest rate of tax burden in the entire European Union for gasoline. For every euro paid by the consumer, the 51 cents go to the state (through the Excise Duty and the 24% VAT).
The breath of Cyprus
Cyprus follows a completely different policy. Its price before taxes of €1,087 is very close to the Greek one (a little more expensive), but the total taxes are lower. This is due to low VAT (19%) and moderate excise duty, keeping the share of taxes at 40.7% and Cyprus among the cheapest EU markets with the average selling price of petrol at €1,732.96.
Denmark has the most expensive gasoline in Europe at €2,658.12, with the price before taxes being €1,409.06 and the tax burden rate at 47%, In Poland the price of gasoline before taxes is €1,090.25 and the price at the gas station is €1,852.73 (tax burden rate 41.2%), in Italy the price of gasoline before taxes is €1,094.45 and the final selling price is €2,156.17 (tax burden rate 49.2%).
In France the pre-tax price of gasoline is €1,153.78 and the price to the consumer is € 2,212.78 (tax burden rate 47.9%), in Germany the price before tax is €1,167.89 and the price that reaches the consumer is € 2,345.00 (tax burden rate 50.2%). In Lithuania the price of gasoline before taxes is €1,066.97 and the price at the gas station is €1,953.68 9 (tax burden rate 45.4%), in Latvia the price before tax is €1,066.97 and after tax € 2,037.80 (tax burden rate 47.6%), in the Netherlands the price before tax is €1,188.82 and after tax € 2,464.55 (tax burden rate 51.8%).
Diesel
In diesel (diesel), the general trend in Europe wants the share of taxes to be slightly lower compared to gasoline (on average 38%-39% vs. 45%-46%), in order to support commercial transport and the supply chain. However, final prices remain at very high levels.
In diesel, Greece has a different profile compared to gasoline. The "net" price before taxes is quite high at €1,362.10, surpassing even countries such as France and Italy. However, because the Excise Tax on diesel is lower than that of gasoline, the price at the gas station is €2,216.00 (tax participation rate 38.5%).
In Cyprus, the pre-tax price is €1,359.20, almost the same as the Greek price, but low taxes keep the final price at €2,022.88, making it one of the most affordable markets in the Eurozone (tax participation rate 32.8%).
Finland has the highest net diesel price in Europe at €2,522.96 while the pre-tax price is €1,499.81 (tax participation rate 40.5%). In the Netherlands, the cost before tax is €1,529.62 and the final average price is €2,526.02 (tax participation rate 39.4%).
In Italy the price of diesel before taxes is €1,353.87 and the price at the service station is €2,350.66 (tax participation rate 42.4%), in Germany the price before tax is €1,415.70 and after tax € 2,437.00 (tax participation rate 41.9%, in France the price before tax is €1,368.03 and after tax € 2,370.63 (tax participation rate 42.3%).
Also, in Denmark the price of diesel is € 1,463.37 and after tax is € 2,541.74 (tax participation rate 42.4%), in Slovakia the price before tax is € 1,200.48 and after tax is € 1,978.00 (tax participation rate 39,3%), in Slovenia the price before tax is €1,295.07 and after tax is € 2,011.04 (tax participation rate 35,6%), in Portugal the price before tax on diesel is € 1,342.59 and after tax € 2,186.00 (tax participation rate 38,6%).
State support measures and tax embankments
The explosive rise in prices has put European governments on alert, which are forced to take emergency measures to stem the wave of inflation that threatens the cohesion of the economy. Faced with the risk of a prolonged inflationary shock, one country after another in the European Union is mobilizing fiscal tools, focusing mainly on temporarily reducing taxes, subsidizing prices at the pump and supporting the most vulnerable households.
In this context, countries with traditionally high tax burdens have made drastic interventions. Typical examples are the countries that have decided to reduce the Excise Duty (EFK) to the minimum permissible limits of the EU, offering immediate relief to consumers. At the same time, in central Europe, models of direct government subsidy per liter for motor fuels were implemented, in order to protect the supply chain and contain transport costs, which are directly passed on to basic goods.
In Cyprus, the government maintains targeted measures, taking advantage of the potential for low tax rates while enhancing heating allowances for mountainous and vulnerable areas. On motor fuels (petrol & diesel) there is a tax reduction with a relief of 8.33 cents per liter and the validity period has been extended until November 30, 2026.
In countries such as Greece, the discussion focuses on the need to impose a ceiling on the profit margin of trading companies, as well as the intensification of market controls to combat profiteering. However, analysts warn that without a permanent and generalized European strategy, national measures are just "aspirins" in the face of the international energy crisis.
Heating oil: Social embankment
On heating oil, taxes are generally much lower than on motor fuels, as most member states implement social policies to keep household heating costs low during the winter months. It is noted that for Bulgaria, Greece, the Netherlands and Slovakia no data were available in the European bulletin. Cyprus records the cheapest "net" price before taxes in Europe of €1,287.49 for heating oil.
The cheapest price in Malta is €0, 615.37 and Belgium €1,268.65. The prices presented are based on the European Bulletin of 28 September 2026. Heating oil prices do not include the new reduction in Excise Tax by 5,3 cents/liter approved by the government on September 30, which will come into force from November 1, 2026, further squeezing the final cost for households.
