The Economic Committee of the Bundesrat has cleared the way for state-imposed price caps on fuel, the Rheinische Post reports. The committee backed an initiative from Saarland calling for a price ceiling on fuels after the end of the fuel tax cut.
Luxembourg is cited as a model for the measure, where the economy ministry has had good experience with state-set maximum prices for years. The aim is to limit excessive margins of oil companies, prevent what is described as “rip-offs,” and ensure “consumer-friendly prices” for petrol and diesel.
The key decision now lies with the Bundesrat session on July 10. If state premiers follow the committee’s recommendation, pressure on the federal government to introduce a legal price cap will increase.
The fuel tax cut, which reduced taxes on petrol and diesel by around 17 cents per liter, expired at midnight on Wednesday.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
