Tetovo, 23 March 2026 (MIA) – Following the government’s fuel measures, the citizens daily will save more than 200,000 euros and 1.5 million euros weekly. The situation is being monitored very closely, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Monday noting that the citizens and businesses should be calm despite incoming challenges.

Speaking to members of the media, Mickoski said Macedonia currently has “by far” the lowest diesel and unleaded fuel price compared to any country in the region and consumption has increased by around 150,000 litres a day.

According to the prime minister, many residents of the neighbouring countries have been filling up tanks at gas stations in the country with pressure being felt the most on the western (Ohrid, Struga, Debar), the southern (Bitola and Gevgelija) and the northern (Kumanovo) border.

The government, said Mickoski, regarding fuel prices has decided to take more sweeping intervention aimed at preventing drastic price hikes that would lower the standards of the citizens.

“We have other measures, but we’re monitoring the situation closely. The citizens and businesses should be calm. We’re facing challenges but the energy situation is extremely stable and the supply of oil and oil derivatives is stable. At the moment, we’re meeting domestic needs. Our country has the lowest taxes when it comes to gasoline and diesel fuel. We made an analysis having in mind stock market prices and we decided that if we intervene in excise taxes then gasoline prices would have gone down by one denar per liter and diesel prices by two. That’s why we decided to take more sweeping action to lower prices by 6.5-7 denars to allow citizens to feel the results and to prevent a drastic increase that would affect the living standards,” Mickoski stated today after reopening the reconstructed the regional vocational education center in Tetovo.

He mentioned that the government at Sunday’s session decided to declare a 30-day emergency situation and to lower fuel VAT from 18 percent to 10.

“We’re one of the few governments in Europe that is directly, from the budget, supporting the citizens’ standards. We will continue. It is in our interest and a priority. It is the goal of a people’s government like ours,” the prime minister said.

Talks haven’t been held yet with OKTA’s leadership, he said.

“The energy minister is in charge of that. I have no information that talks have taken place. I expect OKTA to have an understanding. Now is the time to help each other,” urged Mickoski.

Asked to comment on the opposition’s criticism that the government isn’t doing enough to alleviate the crisis, Mickoski said: “The only thing SDSM will be remembered by is the fact that our country handled the Covid pandemic the worst.”

Photo: Government