Europe uses subsidies, taxes and policy pauses to offset pain of high fuel prices

Governments across Europe are using subsidies, tax changes and temporary policy “pauses” to blunt the impact of record gasoline and diesel prices, driven by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. An OECD report says seven of the 10 most active countries are in the EU. Measures range from Lithuania cutting train ticket prices in half and Greece taxing gambling more to fund relief, to Italy delaying coal plant demolition and reducing paperwork for oil and gas projects. The Netherlands is expanding free home energy-saving services, while Poland proposes heavy taxes on record fuel-sector profits. Brussels also loosened state-aid rules, as pump prices topped the $12-a-gallon equivalent in some places.