The rise in fuel prices continues and the average price of diesel at gas stations has already exceeded €1.70 .
If at the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East a liter of gasoline cost €1.26 per liter, and diesel - €1.29, as of today the prices have reached €1.48 per liter of gasoline and €1.71 for diesel. For diesel, the jump is 32 percent.
And here is what the official data of the National Revenue Agency show, which are also used for the decision to activate the mechanism to support the most vulnerable:
On April 1, the price of diesel was €1.68 euros. Yesterday it was one euro cent higher. We have to see if today will be the third day of April, in which diesel will remain at a price of over €1.60 euros per liter, which is the threshold for the 20 euro monthly aid.
Because of the prices at both gas stations and stores, the acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov formed a headquarters. And after a meeting today, the press center of the Council of Ministers came up with more measures:
The government assures that the measures will continue, and the inspections for non-market behavior will continue. But there is no definitive answer as to whether the 20 euro measure will be activated for April.
Despite living in London, we find Simeon at a Sofia gas station. He says that fuel prices there and here are almost the same, despite the difference in living standards. The man also compares food.
"Iceberg lettuce is 1.70 euros, while in the UK one pound, even 79 pounds. Lamb is 9 or 10 pounds a kilogram, the shoulder here is 17 euros", says Simeon.
Nearly 51 thousand people have submitted documents for state aid - 20 euros each for fuel. The reason - the presence of 3 consecutive days with a price per liter over 1 euro and 60. And the new month begins with two days with diesel prices above the threshold according to the National Revenue Agency. Will the measure be activated for April as well - we ask the Ministry of Finance, but they referred us to the Social Ministry. Minister Hasan Ademov explains - the measure is also planned for this month, but under new rules. Whether it will be activated will become clear at the end of the month.
"For the following months on an average monthly basis, if it is above 1.60, the support mechanism is automatically activated - and why is the change? - because it is expected that there will be dynamics in prices. They are not fixed, which is why this change is necessary," says Hasan Ademov.
Meanwhile, there are still questions about the 20 euros for March. We receive a message in our editorial mailbox from a viewer who wishes to apply for support.
A signal to the editorial mailbox of bTV from Kosta Dimitrov:
„I was sent to the ESGRAON agency where they made me pay 5.11 € to confirm my current address. So if I am lucky I will receive a little less than 15 € assistance instead of the promised 20 €“
The Directorate for „Social Assistance“ explained that it is not necessary to provide a document for a current address and, accordingly, to pay this fee. The check is carried out automatically.