France expands fuel aid as Germany and Spain extend tax cuts amid record fuel prices in parts of Europe. France’s €450 million package makes 5.5 million workers eligible for €100 payments; German cuts will lower prices by 17 cents per litre from 1 October through year-end.
France’s €100 payments go to workers who drive more than 30 kilometres on a round trip to work or over 8,000 kilometres a year for professional purposes. The package also extends fuel subsidies for farmers, fishers and construction firms through year-end, and makes €48–€277 energy vouchers available three months early to 5.8 million families.
Supply disruptions from the Iran war came on top of energy turmoil caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Spain’s tax break is 5 cents per litre this month and would automatically rise to 20 cents if annual fuel-price inflation exceeds 15%. Germany said it would hold talks with oil companies about introducing a fuel-price cap by 1 January. EU leaders gave member states temporary discretion to provide state aid to households and energy-intensive industries; EU countries have tapped strategic reserves under an International Energy Agency agreement to make 400 million barrels of oil available to the market.
