Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed intentions to provide relief to motorists in Germany, although specific measures remain unclear. Gas stations in Germany are permitted to raise fuel prices only once a day at noon. On September 15, E10 gasoline was priced at approximately €2.25 ($2.60) per liter, while diesel was about €2.37. Prices increased by around €0.20 per liter at noon, with the highest price recorded at a highway gas station in southern Berlin, where Super Plus reached €3.03 per liter.
Many drivers have expressed frustration, particularly in rural areas where public transportation options are limited. According to the Federal Statistical Office, filling a 60-liter tank with E10 gasoline cost about €31 less in the Czech Republic and Poland than in Germany, with differences of €28 in Luxembourg and €25 in Austria. Germany shares borders with nine countries, and gasoline is cheaper in seven of them, while diesel is less expensive in six. Only in the Netherlands and Denmark do drivers pay more for fuel than in Germany.
Chancellor Merz stated, "Many people who need their cars every day have reached their breaking point," during an event in Berlin. He acknowledged that the exact relief measures have not yet been determined and that discussions are ongoing within the federal government and with German states. A proposal is expected to be announced soon.
Deputy government spokesperson Steffen Meyer attributed the rising prices to external factors, including the situation in the Middle East and attacks on oil infrastructure, rather than government actions. However, Germany's higher taxes and levies on fuels contribute to the overall cost. The ADAC automobile club noted that despite oil prices being below previous peaks, E10 gasoline is currently more expensive than ever.
Herbert Rabl from the Gas Station Interest Group criticized oil companies for not reducing profit margins. He mentioned that the federal government is divided on potential solutions. The conservative CDU/CSU and the SPD face challenges due to budget constraints, with the government unable to cover its shortfall without incurring significant new debt.
Meyer emphasized that resolving the issue would require ending hostilities and ensuring freedom of navigation. In response to rising oil prices following the outbreak of the war in Iran, the German government introduced a temporary fuel rebate from May 1 to June 30, 2026, which was expected to lower prices by about €0.17 per liter. However, Federal Economy Minister Katherina Reiche stated that similar measures are not feasible at this time.
The CDU is considering tax relief for commuters or direct payments to low-income earners, while the SPD proposes a government-imposed cap on fuel prices, funded by an excess profit tax on energy companies. They also support a temporary reduction in energy taxes to alleviate the crisis.
As regional elections approach on September 20, the SPD is under pressure to respond to rising fuel prices. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, SPD Premier Manuela Schwesig is competing against the far-right AfD, which leads in polls with 38% support compared to the SPD's 34%. The AfD advocates for significant reductions in fuel prices through tax cuts.
Schwesig criticized the federal government's inaction, stating that the chancellor's delay is causing frustration. The SPD-led Federal Finance Ministry plans to advocate for an excess profits tax at an upcoming EU finance ministers' meeting in Dublin. Officials in Berlin are discussing this tax at the European level, with support from larger member states like Spain and Poland. A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry mentioned that such a tax could help provide targeted relief for those most affected by high gas prices.