Finance Minister Ligi: lowering excise duties will not resolve fuel price surge

Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi says the Estonian government is not considering a significant reduction in excise duties or other measures that would artificially stimulate fuel consumption. Such steps could accelerate inflation and strain the state budget, according to the minister.

Estonian Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi (Reform Party) confirmed that the government does not plan to significantly reduce excise duties on fuel to ease price increases, nor will it implement other measures that would artificially boost fuel consumption.

According to Ligi, such steps could actually deepen inflation and create additional strain on the state budget. The minister emphasised that economically responsible governance does not mean supporting consumption through artificial price controls.

Rising fuel prices have become an acute issue in Estonia in recent months, affecting both private car users and the transport and logistics sector. As a result, calls on the government to ease the situation have grown.

The Finance Ministry holds the view that a long-term solution must be based on market principles and that state budget policy should not increase fuel dependency through tax cuts.