In Greece, petrol taxes made up 52.5% of the average pump price as fuel costs climbed sharply across Europe. Euro-super 95 petrol averaged €2.158 per liter ($2.49 per liter), with €1.133 per liter ($1.31 per liter) going to taxes and compulsory charges, according to European Commission data analyzed on Sept. 14.
The Greek tax bill included an excise duty of €0.70 per liter ($0.81 per liter), about 1.5 cents per liter ($0.017 per liter) in smaller levies and €0.418 per liter ($0.48 per liter) in value-added tax. The tax share was the highest among the 10 countries with the largest petrol tax bills. By the amount collected per liter, Greece ranked fifth, behind the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Germany.
Greece’s petrol taxes draw attention as EU average sets record
The broader price surge pushed the EU’s consumption-weighted petrol average to €2.063 per liter ($2.38 per liter) on Sept. 14. That was the highest level in the European Commission’s weekly series, which dates to 2005. Taxes across the bloc averaged €0.976 per liter ($1.13 per liter), accounting for 47.3% of the pump price.
The record applies to the EU-wide weighted average, not Greece’s national price history. Greece’s Sept. 14 average remained below the €2.424 per liter ($2.80 per liter) recorded in June 2022.
Fuel prices have faced renewed pressure since the conflict involving Iran escalated in late February and disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Euronews reported that Brent crude was near $72 a barrel before the conflict and above $100 by mid-September.
The European Central Bank has also identified higher refining costs and margins as an important part of the 2026 fuel-price shock.
Greek relief measures have shifted toward diesel
Greece has introduced several measures to limit fuel costs during the year. In July, domestic refiners committed €40 million to support temporary cuts of 10 cents per liter ($0.12 per liter) on unleaded petrol and 5 cents per liter ($0.06 per liter) on diesel through the end of August.
By September, government support was focused more heavily on diesel and heating oil. Greece extended a 10-cent-per-liter ($0.12 per liter) diesel subsidy through September. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said last week that diesel support would continue into October, while no new measure for petrol was ready to be announced at that time.
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