Croatian PM: Hungary’s dual pricing is a clear breach of obligations

The Hungarian government imposes an official price cap on petrol. They created a dual pricing system since large flocks of foreigners came to Hungary to fill up. However, the new regulation is widely criticised. Experts say the dual pricing is against EU rules. The Croatian Prime Minister supports that view too. Andrej Plenković criticised the Hungarian government’s decision in a statement to Euronews.

Criticism from the Croatian Prime Minister

Andrej Plenković, Croatian Prime Minister, says the Hungarian dual pricing is discriminatory and against the EU laws.

“Hungary cannot discriminate against citizens of other member states who want to fill up their petrol tanks in Hungary,”

said Plenković. He added that Hungary buys cheap Russian oil, while everyone else purchases more expensive Mediterranean or Brent oil, mandiner.hu reports. European institutions, such as the EU or the European Commission, have not objected to the Hungarian government’s decree so far.

• Read also: Chaos at petrol stations over dual pricing

How long will the dual pricing last?

The European Consumer Organisation has given an interview to euronews.com. “There is no reason why we should discriminate against people from other countries regarding the price of petrol. We expect the European Commission to investigate the situation as soon as possible and as thoroughly as possible,” the ETUC said.

Euronews reports that the European Commission has opened an investigation into the case.

The organisation added that the EU’s great strength is the free movement of goods and services within its internal market, where any restrictions can be imposed only in justified cases. Under EU rules, a member state must ensure that it does not discriminate against service users from other member states.

Previously, German legislation has also been challenged for discriminatory pricing.

Germany would have had a similar regulation for motorway use. Foreign buyers would have been charged a higher sticker price. Austria sued Germany. The European Commission condemned Germany in June 2019.

Gergely Gulyás admitted that the most controversial part of the fiscal adjustment package was the introduction of the dual petrol price but he thinks there are good arguments for keeping it.

Read alsoCroatian PM: Hungary’s dual pricing is a clear breach of obligations

Source: mandiner.hu, euronews.com