Slovenia has become the first EU country to impose fuel trade restrictions to counter the fallout from US and Israeli strikes on Iran and its retaliatory attacks on Gulf states, the BBC reports.
Fuel prices are set to rise sharply in many parts of the world, and are already being felt in some places. Slovenia has been hit by “fuel tourism”, where drivers from neighbouring countries, particularly Austria, take advantage of the opportunity to buy fuel at a lower price. The new rules will see private individuals limited to 50 litres of fuel per day, while businesses and farmers will be allowed to buy up to 200 litres per day.
Some European fuel retailers have already imposed their own measures. Hungary’s MOL, which operates across the region, has imposed a 30-litre limit for each fill-up.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said over the weekend that he wanted to emphasize that Slovenia has enough fuel reserves, that the warehouses are full and that there will be no shortage of fuel.
According to government orders, gas stations will monitor compliance with the rules themselves, and employees must make sure that customers do not try to buy more fuel than allowed.
The government has also called for stricter restrictions on foreign drivers.
Currently, 95-brand gasoline in Austria is approaching the price of 1.80 euros per liter, while the price of diesel fuel is reaching the two-euro mark. Meanwhile, in Slovenia, gasoline costs 1.47 euros per liter and diesel – 1.53 euros per liter, but prices are expected to rise on the 24th of March.
A truck driver near Slovenia’s northern border with Austria told local media that he wondered if the Slovenians were at war with someone when a gas station ran out of gas. He added that he had never experienced anything like it before.
For some Austrians, the price difference seems like enough to make them cross the border. This is being used for propaganda by Austrian far-right politician Herbert Kickl, who posted a photo of a line of cars with Austrian license plates waiting to fill up at a Slovenian gas station. He captioned the photo with a plaintive remark that it is sad to live in a country where people are forced to go abroad to make life cheaper.
Some Slovenians see foreigners as a nuisance, causing queues and fuel shortages for locals. Others, however, point out that a significant proportion of fuel tourists go to see other sites, eat in local restaurants and spend time in shops.
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