A quirk of Central European geography — and the ripple effects of the ongoing Iran war — has pushed Slovakia into an unlikely policy debate: should foreigners pay more for diesel at the pump than Slovak citizens? Prime Minister Robert Fico says the answer might have to be yes.
The Problem: Stations Running Dry
Slovakia is considering introducing regulations to set higher diesel prices at petrol stations for foreign drivers, or to limit how much fuel they can purchase, as the government seeks to protect itself from the growing phenomenon of fuel tourism.
The trigger is Slovakia’s northern border with Poland. Fico said representatives from refiner Slovnaft, part of Hungary’s oil and gas group MOL, informed the government that in some northern districts near Poland, cheaper diesel prices on the Slovak side of the border had led to a significant rise in cross-border purchases. In some cases, Fico said, petrol stations “literally dried up” as foreign drivers made the trip specifically to fill up on cheaper Slovak fuel.
Why Slovak Diesel Is So Attractive
The numbers tell the story. As of early March 2026, diesel in Slovakia was priced at approximately €1.483 per litre — some 15.2 percent below the EU average of €1.748 per litre, making it one of the cheapest in the bloc. For Polish and Austrian drivers in particular, the savings from crossing the border to refuel can be meaningful, especially as fuel prices across the continent have been climbing in response to supply disruptions tied to the Iran conflict.
The Iran War Factor
The broader context matters here. The proposal comes as global energy markets face supply shortages and price hikes triggered by the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Fico estimated that the war has already cost the European Union an additional €6 billion in oil costs, and declared that “for the government, it is extremely important to maintain price stability.”
Neighbouring countries have already moved. Hungary has capped fuel prices outright, while Poland’s main refinery, Orlen, has cut its profit margins to limit the consumer impact. Slovakia, until now, had avoided any formal measures, relying instead on self-regulation by fuel sellers. That approach, it appears, is no longer sufficient.
The Policy Options — and the Legal Minefield
Slovakia is weighing two main options: either set a higher pump price specifically for foreign-registered vehicles, or cap how much fuel non-residents can purchase per visit. Both are politically and legally contentious.
Such a move would mirror a controversial 2022 policy in Hungary, which sparked significant legal challenges from the European Union over non-discrimination laws. EU single market rules generally prohibit member states from treating citizens of other member states differently in commercial transactions — meaning Slovakia could face a Brussels challenge if it proceeds with nationality-based pricing.
The Slovak government’s stated goal is to bring diesel prices to a level comparable to neighbouring Poland, while keeping them below Austria’s prices — threading a needle that would reduce the incentive for fuel tourism without making Slovak drivers bear the full brunt of global market pressures.
What Comes Next
No formal legislation has been introduced yet, and the government says it is still in the consultation phase. But with petrol stations in border districts already struggling with supply, and with the Iran war showing no signs of quick resolution, Bratislava appears to be running out of patience with a market-only approach. A regulatory decision is expected in the coming weeks.
