site.btaAround 60,000 Applications Expected for EUR 20 Fuel Compensation, Labour Minister Says

About 50,900 applications have been submitted for the EUR 20 compensation for the increased fuel prices, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Hasan Ademov said on Nova TV on Sunday. More applications are expected through the Ministry of E-Governance, which means that just over 60,000 applications will be filed in total, Ademov said.

The support is available to individuals who own cars and meet the income criterion, which is twice the poverty line, just under EUR 760, the Minister explained. Once the information from the National Revenue Agency is ready, the funds will be transferred to eligible recipients. Ademov added that payments for March will likely be made by mid-April. The measure for April will be activated differently.

If the average monthly fuel price is EUR 1.60, the measure will be activated automatically. Those who received the March payment in April do not need to submit new applications, the Minister said. In May, the support will be provided to those who meet the new activation conditions, as well as to those who missed submitting an application in March but did so in April.

Ademov noted that some measures are not yet activated. Sectors contributing to higher consumer prices have been identified. The main priority is to prevent the fuel price shock from being passed along to retail prices, he emphasized, citing the transport sector and the postponement of toll fees as examples.

The Minister also announced that the Government will adopt a regulation on so-called energy poverty.