Portugal Ministry of Finance defends road network fuel tax legality

The Portuguese Ministry of Finance has defended the current financing model for the national road network, asserting that it is in full compliance with European law. The government rejected claims that an “illegal tax” is being levied on fuels.

The dispute follows reports that the Road Service Contribution (CSR), which was declared illegal by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in February 2022, continues to generate significant revenue. While the CSR was officially abolished in 2022, the government transitioned to a model where road network funding is secured through the allocation of a portion of the Petroleum and Energy Products Tax (ISP).

Reports indicate that this mechanism generated approximately 710 million euros for Infraestruturas de Portugal in 2025, marking the highest amount since 2015. The Ministry maintains that because the CSR no longer exists and the current allocation of ISP revenue remains unchanged since 2022, the system adheres to both national and European legal standards.