Greece Turns to Familiar Playbook as Energy Costs Rise

With fuel costs climbing and the Easter travel season approaching, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gathered his top economic officials Tuesday at the Maximos Mansion for an urgent review of how the ongoing Middle East conflict is rippling through domestic markets.

The meeting produced no new policy announcements, serving largely as a public signal that the government is paying attention as Greeks brace for higher prices at the pump and in supermarkets during one of the busiest travel and spending periods of the year.

Diesel relief starts Wednesday, gasoline to follow

The most concrete measure is a subsidy cutting the price of diesel by 20 euro cents per liter, set to take effect Wednesday. Close behind it is a revived “fuel pass” for gasoline — a direct subsidy mechanism Greece first deployed during the 2022 energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — which officials said is expected to be activated within days. The fuel pass model credits registered vehicle owners and other eligible recipients with a fixed amount per liter, helping to offset pump prices without requiring retailers to formally lower them.