UK bottom of European governments that cut fuel taxes

The UK languishes near the bottom of a ranking of European countries for measures taken to ease the burden of high fuel prices.

The UK government is 12th out of 13 European countries to have cut petrol taxes since prices started to soar in March, according to the RAC.

However, 15 other European governments have not reduced the gas tax at all.

The Republic, which has reduced petrol tax by 14.5 pence per litre, is 5th on the table.

The 5p per liter reduction implemented by the UK in March is dwarfed by fuel tax reductions enjoyed by drivers in countries such as Germany (25.1p per litre), Italy (21 .2p per litre), Portugal (16.2p per litre) and the Netherlands. (14.7p per litre).

The French and Spanish governments have introduced forecourt cash rebates worth around 15 pence per liter and 17 pence per liter respectively.

Some fuel retailers, including TotalEnergies in France and BP Spain, have price reductions of up to around 33p per litre.

UK petrol prices have finally started to fall in recent days after pressure on retailers to reflect a drop in wholesale costs that began seven weeks ago.

But the UK still has an average petrol price 186p per liter higher than all EU members except Finland (190p) and Denmark (also 186p).

Drivers in France pay around 23 pence per liter less than those in the UK.

The situation is similar for diesel, with only Croatia introducing a lower fuel tax reduction than the UK, and only one EU member, Sweden, having a higher average price.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “This analysis lays bare an uncomfortable truth for the UK Government – that compared to other European countries it is about the least done to support drivers during the current period of record fuel prices.

“The result is that the UK is one of the most expensive places to refuel and puts it above other countries that have historically charged more fuel than UK retailers, including France and the UK. Netherlands.”

Here is a ranking of European Union and UK countries based on petrol tax cuts per liter since March, according to the RAC:

1. Germany

Petrol tax reduction: 25.1 pence per liter

Average pump price: 154p per liter

2. Italy

Petrol tax reduction: 21.2 pence per liter

Average pump price: 164p per liter

3.Portugal

Petrol tax reduction: 16.2p per liter

Average pump price: 161p per liter

4. The Netherlands

Petrol tax reduction: 14.7 pence per liter

Average pump price: 182p per liter

5. Republic of Ireland

Petrol tax reduction: 14.5 pence per liter

Average pump price: 171p per liter

6. Sweden

Petrol tax reduction: 13.0 pence per liter

Average pump price: 168p per liter

7. Belgium

Petrol tax reduction: 12.3 pence per liter

Average pump price: 159p per liter

8. Croatia

Petrol tax reduction: 9.0 pence per liter

Average pump price: 151p per liter

9. Cyprus

Petrol tax reduction: 5.9 pence per liter

Average pump price: 152p per liter

10. Hungary

Petrol tax reduction: 5.3 pence per liter

Average pump price: 106p per liter

11. Czech Republic

Petrol tax reduction: 5.2 pence per liter

Average pump price: 160p per liter

12. United Kingdom

Petrol tax reduction: 5.0 pence per liter

Average pump price: 186p per liter

13.Luxembourg

Petrol tax reduction: 4.5 pence per liter

Average price at the pump: 145p per liter

The following members of the European Union have not reduced gasoline taxes since March (ranked in order of highest average pump price):

Finland

Average price at the pump: 190p per liter

Denmark

Average pump price: 186p per liter

Greece

Average pump price: 185p per liter

Austria

Average pump price: 169p per liter

Spain

Average pump price: 166p per liter

France

Average pump price: 163p per liter

Latvia

Average pump price: 161p per liter

Lithuania

Average pump price: 158p per liter

Slovakia

Average pump price: 155p per liter

Estonia

Average pump price: 149p per liter

Romania

Average pump price: 147p per liter

Slovenia

Average price at the pump: 145p per liter

Bulgaria

Average pump price: 144p per liter

Poland

Average pump price: 131p per liter

Malta

Average price at the pump: 114p per liter