EU: Hungary could be fined for dual pricing
The EU Commission agreed that dual pricing is illegal under EU law and has asked for the practice of dual pricing to be stopped. The country could even face fines.
A practice against EU laws
The European Commission’s Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton on Wednesday called on Hungary to suspend the fuel’s dual pricing that discriminates against foreign vehicles filling up in the country, Reuters reports. This practice is again EU laws.
“The move marks yet another area of discord between the European Commission and Hungary. Tensions between Brussels and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have grown in recent months, including over Budapest stalling more sanctions against Russia,”
Reuters writes.
A letter to Hungary’s technology mininster
As szeretlekmagyarország.hu reports, Breton sent a letter to Minister of Technology and Industry László Palkovics, expressing concern that in Hungary, vehicles with registration plates from other EU countries have to pay 50-60% more for fuel than those with Hungarian plates.
The Commissioner asked the government to suspend the dual pricing until it is in line with EU law.
Breton warned Palkovics that it could constitute a breach of EU law and discrimination if a country linked petrol prices to registration plates, which could lead to the European Commission launching proceedings and ultimately even fining Hungary.
Dual pricing
In Hungary, the official price of HUF 480 (EUR 1.21) is still in force for cars with Hungarian licence plates. For those who want to fill up with a foreign registration, the price can be as high as HUF 760-800 (EUR 1.92-2.02) per litre, depending on the type of petrol and the station.
“I am asking you to provide us with your reply with regard to the justification and the validity period of those measures, which might constitute violations of EU law,”
Reuters quoted Breton writing in a letter to the country’s technology minister.
“I am also asking you to suspend the application of the measures until their compliance with EU law has been ensured,”
he wrote.
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Source: szeretlekmagyarország.hu, Reuters.com
10 Comments
This article is disingenuous. Meaning misleading. The EU have NOT asked for the price cap to be suspended, the EU Commission agree that dual pricing is illegal under EU Law and have asked for the practice of dual pricing to be stopped. The price cap is not an issue that is at stake. Please amend this inaccurate article forthwith.
EU countries object to double pricing of gas. Since the rest of the population of EU supported governments that are responsible for high energy prices, they have no right to complain. The people voted for governments that shun cheaper gas from from Russia and voted for governments that do not put the interest of the people of their respective countries first deserve to pay more.. Let that be a lesson to the people of the EU that election have a great impact on their lives.
Foreign tourists who do not like the gas prices should either stay home or go somewhere else. They have no right to use up cheap Hungarian gas that is needed by Hungarian people.
Rightfully.
Hungary AGAIN, by the agenda of this present Government, under the Fidesz Party, led by the present Prime Minister of Hungary – Victor Orban, continue on, there AGITATION against the Laws of Membership of the European Union.
The declining RESPECT – arising coming out of “other” member countrys of the European Union, for Hungary – is Alarming.
Friendships with Hungary – have been dissipated – other than Russia & China.
The on-going decline of the Financial & Economic “broadsheet’ picture in Hungary – remembering the devastation on-going devaluation of the Forint, against ALL other Major currencies, the immediate, short and long term picture for Hungary – is DARK.
Dear Reader, we’ve amended the article.
@marievontheresa, what’s it got do with you? You live in Canada, the EU is not. your business. By the way gas is not part of the issue, the capped gas prices are not subject to dual pricing. It is petrol and diesel that are the the issue. Gas is the same price per m3 for all residents. The reason that petrol and diesel are the subject of dispute is because EU law, to which Hungary signed up to upon accession forbids discrimination based upon nationality. Mongoose!
@Maple Syrup
Gas is what the Americans and Canadians call petrol and/or diesel. They call petrol stations ‘gas stations’. I understand your frustration with this mariavontheresa thing but it’s nothing more than a ‘bot’, not a person.
This particular ‘bot’ is programmed to agree with anything and everything the government does. There are comments from this ‘bot’ in other online publications. The way in which the comments are written, they’re not from a person. It’s simulating human activity. Nothing is posted for a few days then a flurry of ’comments’ appears. The aim of this ‘bot’ is to create a response from others.
You unfortunately creatures, you cannot differentiate between pro nationalist rule and pro EU policy. The bottom line is elections have results. As long as the EU population supports liberal Marxist governments, national interests go by the wayside.
@Anonymous
Of course I know that in North America ‘gas’ is the abbreviation for gasoline, it’s just that I prefer standard English – considerably more more people in the world use it than North American English (a ghastly creation by Noah Webster as a form of rebellion against the British). A quirk of mine. An interesting theory about mvt being bot. Not that long ago mvt was very pro Russian (ultra pro, in fact) even when Russia invaded Ukraine. Mvt is also very pro China and very anti EU. Mvt also sometimes spouts bits of Hungarian history but without incorrect anaylsis. So perhaps you are right……
Oops, typo: I meant to write ‘without correct analysis’ – sorry!
How would Hungarians react if the highway tolls were doubled throughout Europe for HU licensed cars?