Bulgaria wants an exemption from levying excise duties on electricity and natural gas, in an attempt to soften the impact of high fuel prices on transport. It will request the right for exemption to the European Commission, the website See News reports.

This was revealed after a meeting of cabinet ministers with representatives of Bulgarian transport companies. These companies raised their concern about the high prices and threatened nationwide protests. They ask for subsidies and the halving of excise duties on motor fuels.

EU rules

Under current EU rules, member states may apply for full or partial exemptions or reduced rates of taxation of power from renewable energy sources, energy products and electricity used for the transport of goods and passengers by rail, metro, tram or trolleybus as well as electricity, natural gas, coal and solid fuels for household use.
EU countries may also be able to get an exemption from excise on natural gas where the share of gas in the end energy consumption is below 15 per cent, the Bulgarian government indicated. The request is part of the measures it is implementing to deal with the consequences of high energy prices for the transport sector.