Slovakia’s fuel price discrimination for foreigners: EU Commission threatens legal action

The European Commission has firmly denounced Slovakia’s recent decision to impose higher diesel prices on vehicles with foreign license plates, describing the measure as highly discriminatory and incompatible with European Union rules.

Commission’s spokesman Ricardo Cardoso stated on 24 March that while authorities in Bratislava have legitimate reasons to support their citizens amid an acute energy crisis, such actions cannot discriminate on the basis of nationality or threaten the integrity of the EU’s single market. The Commission announced it would initiate appropriate legal action to enforce compliance with European law.

Slovakia introduced the controversial restrictions last week as part of a broader effort to manage severe diesel shortages triggered by interrupted supplies through the Druzhba pipeline and rising global energy costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East, specifically the war involving Iran. The government declared an oil supply emergency and reached a voluntary price cap agreement with the country’s main refinery, Slovnaft, which helped keep domestic fuel prices lower than in neighboring countries. This price advantage quickly sparked a surge in “fuel tourism,” particularly from drivers in Poland and Austria, who cross the border to fill up at cheaper Slovak stations. In some northern districts, stations reportedly ran dry as foreign motorists took advantage of the disparity.

To address the strain, Slovak authorities approved a 30-day resolution allowing service stations to limit diesel sales to one full vehicle tank plus a maximum of 10 additional liters in a container. Purchases are further capped at €400 worth of diesel per vehicle. Exports of diesel to other countries have also been restricted. Most contentiously, stations can now apply a higher price specifically to cars with foreign registration plates. This elevated rate is calculated as the average of current diesel prices in neighboring Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland, effectively eliminating the incentive for cross-border bargain hunting. Prime Minister Robert Fico defended the steps as necessary “positive discrimination” to protect Slovak drivers and prevent stations from being depleted. He warned that non-compliant self-service stations could face closure and described the measures as extreme but unavoidable given the circumstances.

Tensions over the Druzhba pipeline fuel the crisis

At the heart of Slovakia’s energy difficulties lies the Druzhba pipeline, which has supplied Russian crude oil to Slovakia and Hungary for decades. Deliveries halted in late January after damage occurred on Ukrainian territory, allegedly caused by Russian strikes. Ukrainian officials maintain the pipeline was hit during military operations, while Slovak and Hungarian leaders, who maintain relatively close ties with Moscow, accuse Kyiv of deliberately delaying repairs and inspections. Bratislava and Budapest have repeatedly demanded that independent experts, including their own specialists, be allowed immediate access to assess and restore the line. Prime Minister Fico has been particularly vocal, criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what he calls unilateral decisions that harm Slovakia’s economy. During the European Council meeting in Brussels on 19 March, Fico complained that discussions focused heavily on Ukraine without producing concrete progress on restoring oil flows. He even suggested that Zelenskyy’s actions amounted to interference in Hungary’s upcoming elections by prolonging the supply crisis to weaken the current government in Budapest.

Fico has not shied away from escalation. Slovakia previously suspended emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine and restricted diesel exports in response to the pipeline outage. The prime minister has threatened further retaliatory measures if supplies are not resumed promptly and dismissed proposals for an EU inspection mission that excludes Slovak and Hungarian experts as insufficient. Meanwhile, Slovnaft is partially relying on state oil reserves to keep operations running, underscoring the urgency felt in Bratislava.

The European Commission acknowledges the difficult context, including soaring energy prices across the continent due to the Iran conflict and the pipeline disruption. However, officials insist that any national response must respect core EU principles of non-discrimination and free movement within the single market. Spokesperson Cardoso emphasized that supporting citizens during tough times is understandable, but measures cannot treat EU citizens differently based on where their vehicles are registered. The Commission views the dual pricing system and sales caps targeted at foreigners as a direct challenge to these foundational rules.

Sources: BGNES, Siol.net, Reuters

Slovakia’s Fico escalates energy standoff with Ukraine: electricity cutoff threat looms amid Druzhba pipeline dispute

Caption: Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a press conference in Bratislava, 18 March, 2026. (Press Service of the Government of Slovakia)