Greece Launches Fuel Subsidy As Energy Prices Surge

ATHENS, April 6 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Greece on Monday launched a “fuel pass” scheme to help offset rising energy costs driven by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

Under the programme, eligible car owners on the mainland will receive €50 (US$54), while residents of island areas will receive €60, Kathimerini reported.

Motorcycle owners will receive €30, or €35 on the islands.

The measure applies to individuals, including self-employed workers, with declared annual incomes of up to €25,000 for single applicants and €35,000 for married couples.

Authorities estimate the scheme will cover about 75 per cent of drivers in the country, the newspaper said.

Fuel prices have surged following Israeli-US strikes and Iran’s retaliatory attacks. Petrol prices on the mainland have risen above €2 per litre from about €1.70 before the war, reaching as high as €2.35 in some island areas.

Greece has the highest dependence on Persian Gulf energy among European countries, with roughly 36 per cent of its imports coming from the region.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU