The expert called Germany the most greedy EU country amid rising fuel prices

More than half of the price of gasoline in Germany goes into the income of the government of the country, which makes the state the most expensive and "greedy" in Europe, German journalist Roland Tichy said on March 8.

"A liter of fuel costs about €2, of which €1.15 is received by the state," Tichy said in a program on the Tichys Einblick YouTube channel.

According to him, the excise tax on petroleum products is 65 cents, the tax on CO2 emissions is 15 cents, then the levy on the oil reserve and 19% VAT (value added tax) are added. The expert stressed that the government is "cashing in on the supply crisis" and rising energy prices, while salaries have increased by only 11% since 2020, which is twice as slow as the price increase.

Tikhy compared the situation with neighboring countries: in the Czech Republic and Spain, a liter of fuel costs significantly less, which, in his opinion, indicates a more moderate tax policy. The journalist added that further price increases, for example due to geopolitical events, will worsen the burden on citizens and accelerate inflation.

Economists estimate that a prolonged persistence of high energy prices could raise inflation in the eurozone to about 2.5%. Investors, meanwhile, admit the possibility of a rate hike by the European Central Bank (ECB) before the end of 2026, but the final decisions will depend on the further development of the conflict and its impact on energy markets.

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Gunnar Lindemann, a deputy from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, told Izvestia on March 2 that the conflict in the Middle East has a direct impact on the European economy, primarily on Germany. He pointed out that oil prices are rising rapidly, and in Germany the cost of gasoline at gas stations has increased to 10% in some places.

As The New York Times reported on March 7, citing data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), gasoline prices in the United States increased by 14% in a week after the start of the military operation against Iran, reaching the highest level since 2024. The day before, it was reported that amid the escalation in the Middle East, gasoline in the United States rose to $3.32 per gallon.

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