Serbia decided to scrap customs duty levied on energy imports from developing countries in an effort to diversify its energy sources, president Aleksandar Vucic said. After the United Kingdom and the United States banned Russian oil imports, Serbia has to be ready in case the European Union decides to do the same, Vucic said in an interview aired by private broadcaster B92. The cap on retail fuel prices cannot be extended due to rising prices of crude oil on global markets, the president also said.
On February 12, Serbia's government capped for 30 days the retail prices of petrol and diesel in a bid to cushion the impact of the global fuel prices surge on living standards. The ceiling for Euro diesel and Euro premium BMB 95 was set at 179 dinars ($1.73/1.52 euro) and 171 dinars per litre, respectively. Farmers in Serbia will, however, be able to buy Euro diesel at Serbian oil and gas group NIS [BEL:NIIS] filling stations for 179 dinars per litre for at least another 90 days, during the sowing season, Vucic said. Late last week, Serbia's trade ministry warned local fuel retailers that limiting the amount of one-time fuel purchases is illegal, after its checks showed that certain retailers allow drivers to buy no more than 20 litres at a time.