This week is a decisive one regarding the extension of support measures for economically vulnerable citizens affected by the new energy crisis.
Rising fuel prices are making daily life difficult for households and businesses, significantly increasing transportation costs for individuals and professionals, and the government is moving to utilize the €200 million reserve that it can make available immediately for new emergency measures.
In this context, it is considering extending the 20-cent subsidy on diesel fuel, as well as a new round of Fuel Passes.
According to current data, the cost of another one-month extension of the diesel fuel subsidy is estimated at approximately €40 million, while reinstating the Fuel Pass for a two-month period is estimated to cost up to €130 million. This means that the total package could approach or even exhaust the available reserve of 200 million euros, should both measures be fully implemented.
Fiscal buffers
It is most likely that the interventions will be limited in scope, especially regarding the Fuel Pass, in order to maintain fiscal reserves ahead of the Thessaloniki International Fair and a difficult fall for the economy.
According to relevant sources, however, approximately €17 million remains unclaimed from the first round of the Fuel Pass, as nearly 390,000 eligible recipients did not submit an application, despite the fact that since Easter, the price of unleaded gasoline at the pump has remained consistently above €2 per liter.
It is also worth noting that approximately 1.6 million beneficiaries chose to receive the subsidy in their bank account, an option that resulted in a lower amount compared to the subsidy via the digital fuel card.
Evidently, many beneficiaries used the subsidy not only to purchase fuel but also to cover other daily needs, following the surge in food and housing costs, which are now key drivers of inflation.
According to reports, final decisions are expected to be made before the end of the week so that the new measures can take effect at the beginning of next month.