The Portuguese government has asked the European Union (EU) to investigate the country’s fuel prices and whether fuel companies are abusing their position in the Portuguese market.
The issue centres on the fact that national fuel prices “systematically” do not match up those abroad. Thus, the state fears that a high-level of collusion could be at play.
According to Diário de Notícias, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Energy has requested an investigation from the EU to ensure that fuel companies are abiding by the rules.
An “urgent letter” has been sent to Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, but as yet there has been no reply.
As Jorge Seguro Sanches explains, there have been “successive fuel price hikes that do not reflect the international market” and which have had “very negative consequences” for consumers.
