Slovenia seeks EU approval to cut fuel taxes and lower VAT on basic foods

Slovenia fuel tax reduction VAT on basic foods European Commission Gospodarski krog

The Slovenian government plans to ask the European Commission for permission to temporarily reduce excise duties on gasoline and diesel below the EU minimum. The move is presented as a response to persistently high oil prices linked to the Middle‑East conflict and follows similar approvals granted to Croatia and Sweden. If granted, retail prices could fall to about €1.603 per litre for 95‑octane gasoline and €1.828 per litre for diesel, while state revenue would fall – an estimated €39 million loss was already recorded from earlier tax cuts.

At the same time, the Gospodarski krog – a coalition of 17 economic and agricultural organisations – is urging the adoption of a 5 % value‑added tax on selected basic food items, down from the current 9.5 %. The group argues that the cut would boost purchasing power, align Slovenia’s food prices with neighbouring economies such as Austria (which reduced its food VAT to 4.9 % in July), and help low‑income households. The government has also temporarily suspended the environmental and energy‑efficiency levies on fuel, contributing to the recent price reductions.

Entities: Austrian government · Croatia · European Commission · Gospodarski krog · Gospodarski krog (Economic Circle) · Government of Slovenia · Robert Golob

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 6 SOURCES] The request is justified by high oil prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. (e08c8414, e6338746, 0dc2f3a8, 2a7cd302, 34019abc, e88979bc)
[● 6 SOURCES] Slovenia will request the European Commission for permission to temporarily reduce excise duties on gasoline and diesel below the EU minimum. (e08c8414, e6338746, 0dc2f3a8, 2a7cd302, 34019abc, e88979bc)
[● 4 SOURCES] The government has temporarily suspended the contribution for energy efficiency and environmental duties on fuel, lowering regulated prices. (dd199d34, e08c8414, e6338746, 0dc2f3a8)
[● 2 SOURCES] Austria permanently reduced VAT on selected basic foods from 10 % to 4.9 % in July as a comparable example. (9be333a5, b8a643f4)
[● 2 SOURCES] The fuel tax cut would reduce state budget revenues, with a loss of about €39 million already recorded from earlier reductions. (2a7cd302, e08c8414)
[● 2 SOURCES] Gospodarski krog, a coalition of 17 economic and agricultural organisations, urges reducing VAT on basic food items from 9.5 % to 5 %. (9be333a5, b8a643f4)
[● 2 SOURCES] The proposed VAT cut is intended to boost purchasing power and align Slovenia’s food prices with neighbouring countries such as Austria. (9be333a5, b8a643f4)
[● 4 SOURCES] If approved, fuel prices could fall to about €1.603 per litre for gasoline and €1.828 per litre for diesel. (dd199d34, e08c8414, e6338746, 0dc2f3a8)