Skopje, 5 May 2026 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski says the government is closely monitoring fuel prices on global markets in line with the developments related to the conflict in the Middle East, stressing that future government steps will be based on those parameters, as measures to provide support have already been in place for three months.

“Yesterday, a tanker was hit in the strait, which caused a rise in fuel prices on global markets. The refinery and port in Fujairah were also struck. This is practically the emirate located below the strait, from where the strait can be bypassed and the delivery of oil and petroleum products can continue. All of this contributed to prices surging on the markets, with Brent at one point reaching $114-115 per barrel. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to act based on those parameters,” Mickoski said in response to a journalist’s question after laying the foundation stone for new classrooms for Goce Delchev primary school in Aerodrom municipality.

Mickoski underscored that the government has been implementing support measures due to the Middle East crisis for the past three months, resulting in the country having the lowest fuel prices in the region.

“We have cut excise taxes and reduced VAT on unleaded gasoline and this has come at a considerable cost to the budget over the last 60 days. But that is the situation. The result is the lowest fuel prices in the region. Through all the measures at our disposal, we are doing everything we can to protect citizens’ standard of living,” Mickoski said.

According to him, the current government, through the measures it is implementing, is managing the situation significantly better than the previous government.

“It is a global crisis and these are difficult times, but it we compare the measures taken by this government, which according to the International Monetary Fund, ranks third in Europe in terms of percentage of GDP and those from 2022, the situation is dramatically better. Back then we had double-digit inflation, while now, according to all authorities in this field, this is a crisis that in terms of scale and scope is larger than the two energy crises of the 1970s and the energy crisis of 2022 combined,” Mickoski said.

Photo: MIA