“Specifically in Portugal, the mere divergence between regional, national and international price levels is not sufficient in itself to demonstrate that there is potential anti-competitive behaviour and to justify the [European] Commission launching an investigation,” according to an EC spokesperson.
The same source confirmed that Brussels “received a letter from the Portuguese government at the end of July on fuel prices in Portugal and fuel prices in the EU. We sent a response to that letter earlier this week.”
Several newspapers said that the energy secretary, Jorge Seguro Sanches, sent a letter to European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, asking Brussels to investigate the situation.
In his letter, Jorge Seguro Sanches stressed that the systematic deviations of the fuel prices practiced in Portugal compared with international prices are of concern to the government.
He said that over the last years there had been a series of price hikes that were not seen on the international market, with extremely negative repercussions for the domestic economy and consumers.
Jorge Seguro Sanches acknowledged that there had been many explanations, namely that at times the oil companies had been colluding with each other, which may have infringed legal provisions.
The European Commission further clarified that “at this time, following a request from the Portuguese government, the Competition Authority is conducting an assessment of the conditions of competition in the road fuel industry, as well as the price/cost margin along the fuel value chain.”