Limited fuel using European government

               
                Limited fuel using European government

As of May 2026, several European governments have implemented, or are

considering, fuel buying limitations and market interventions to manage shortages
 
and soaring prices resulting from the ongoing 2026 Iran-related energy crisis.


These measures range from formal rationing and price caps to targeted subsidies,

with Eastern Europe taking more restrictive actions compared to Western Europe.


Fuel Buying Limitations by Country (As of Spring 2026)

Slovenia: Introduced formal fuel rationing, becoming the first EU country to do so
 
during the current crisis. Private motorists are capped at 50 liters per purchase,

while businesses and farmers are restricted to 200 liters.


Hungary: Implemented strict price caps of 595 forints (€1.52) for petrol and 615

forints (€1.57) for diesel. To combat "fuel tourism," this cap applies only to

vehicles with Hungarian license plates.


Germany: Focused on market regulation rather than direct subsidies. The Bundestag
 
passed a "fuel price package" limiting service stations to only one price increase

per day to stop speculative spikes.


Greece: Announced a three-month cap on profit margins on fuel, limiting them to 12
 
cents per liter over the wholesale price.


Serbia: Suspended exports of diesel, gasoline, and crude oil to secure domestic

supply and prevent shortages.


France: While not introducing new "price shields," the government is facing

pressure to act due to high prices, with prices in late March hovering around

€2.00/liter.


United Kingdom: Confirmed that energy bill caps will remain in place until the end

of June 2026, with fuel prices among the highest in Europe.


Key Regional Trends

Price Disparities: A major, near-€1-per-litre diesel price gap has emerged, with
 
countries like Slovenia offering cheaper fuel, attracting drivers from neighboring

countries.


Market Vulnerability: The EU has drastically reduced its reliance on Russian oil

to only 2%, but now relies heavily on Norway and the US.


Jet Fuel Risks: The IEA has warned that Europe has low levels of jet fuel,

prompting potential, coordinated releases of emergency fuel stocks.


Most Expensive Countries: The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Finland

currently hold the highest fuel prices in the EU.