Rising fuel prices: Bulgaria’s interim government proposes aid for vulnerable groups, food and delivery businesses
The caretaker cabinet is proposing measures for the most vulnerable groups in society and part of the business community due to the fuel price spike, Bulgaria’s interim Prime Minister Andrei Gyurov told a briefing on March 12.
These are direct forms of assistance that will reach the accounts of Bulgarian citizens according to certain criteria, Gyurov said.
The cabinet is ready to activate this measure as early as this month if continuing pressure to increase prices is proven, he said.
“We will offer direct aid that will reach the accounts of Bulgarian citizens who meet certain income criteria, which are currently calibrated in the Ministry of Finance, in the fastest possible way,” Gyurov said.
This will depend on income and on the fluctuations in oil prices on world markets, he said.
“The other thing we are trying to do with such a measure is not to influence the mechanisms of the market and not to cause distortions that would lead to uncertainty or shortages of fuels on the market,” Gyurov said.
“Therefore, our measures are mainly aimed in two directions – the most vulnerable groups of Bulgarian society and at business, where we will also offer a measure that will relieve companies that deal with deliveries and food supplies.”
Caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski said that pensioners are included in the definition of the most vulnerable persons.
Klisurski said that the National Revenue Agency has information on all types of income received by individuals “be they students, workers, pensioners, unemployed”.
“All types of income will be analysed and then, through a certain criterion for maximum income that is admissible, the circle of persons who will be able to receive this assistance will be determined,” he said.
Caretaker Economy Minister Irina Shtonova said that the caretaker cabinet would postpone the introduction of the “carbon dioxide” component in the toll tax, which was supposed to happen from April 1.
“We are already talking to the European Commission and it will be postponed by several months – that is, this will be for every truck that passes by and needs to deliver to supermarkets,” Shtonova said.
“We know that the price of petrol and diesel is very important for the formation of other goods, so this is something we can do,” she said.
According to the fuelo.net website, the average price of a litre of A95 petrol has risen from 1.25 euro on February 27 – the day before the US-Israeli attack on Iran began – to 1.35 euro on March 12.
The average price of a litre of diesel has risen from 1.29 euro on February 27 to 1.46 euro on March 12.
(Photo: Hippopx)
