The latest figures from the European Commission on fuel prices in the 27 Member States paint a clear picture: Germany is leading the way in terms of price rises. If we compare fuel prices at petrol stations – excluding taxes and duties – this week with those from the week before the war began, the price of diesel in Germany is 44 per cent higher. By contrast, the EU average increase is 29 per cent. For petrol, the price rise in Germany stands at 29 per cent, whereas the EU average is only 16 per cent. By way of comparison, the underlying oil price rose by 27 per cent over the same period. In geopolitical crises such as these, higher fuel prices are initially attributable primarily to rising oil prices. The fact that price rises in Germany are significantly higher than the European average is an indication that we need to tackle structural problems in the mineral oil market.

- Tomaso Duso, Chair of the Monopolies Commission