The German parliament has approved the federal government’s fuel‑price package. The so‑called Fuel‑Price Adjustment Act was adopted on Thursday with votes from the Union, SPD and Greens, while the AfD and Left parties opposed it.
Under the new law, gas stations will be allowed to raise fuel prices only once a day at 12:00 p.m., in line with an Austrian model, but price cuts can be made at any time. Violations may trigger fines of up to €100,000. It remains uncertain whether the measures will actually curb prices, and an evaluation of the law is scheduled for next year.
The package also tightens antitrust rules. The Federal Cartel Office will be empowered to more easily challenge fuel‑sector firms that dominate the market if there are indications of excessively high prices. In certain circumstances, the burden of proof will shift: companies will need to demonstrate that their price increases are substantively justified.