Poland's prime minister announced Thursday a series of measures to cushion the impact of soaring fuel prices, including reduced taxes and price ceilings."We have decided to act while knowing full well that the situation on the fuel market in Poland and the world depends mostly upon what happens with the war in the Middle East," said Donald Tusk.
The value-added tax was being reduced on petrol and diesel from 23 percent to eight percent, and a maximum price would be set on a daily basis by the energy ministry, he added.
A windfall profits tax on fuel companies will be also introduced, he said.
The package did not just mobilise state resources but acted against profiteering from the crisis "on the back of Polish taxpayers, Polish drivers", Tusk added.
The measures should lead to prices paid at the pump to be 1.2 zloty ($0.32) per litre less than a price based on global market prices.
The measures will be submitted to parliament on Friday to be considered using a streamlined process that could see them enter into force by the end of the next week.
