At their press conference on Thursday, the Groupement Pétrolier above all took aim at the government's decision to increase fuel excise duty. The group took issue with the increase on diesel, which holds 61% of the market's share of fuel due to lorry traffic. According to Romain Hoffmann, the group's president, the excise increase and CO2 tax are both too high and being introduced too quickly, leading lorries to move to getting fuel in Belgium or France.
Hoffmann described the move as illogical, questioning why the government is doing without revenue and no longer accepting money that contributes to Luxembourg's standing in the international transport domain. Additionally, this would put pressure on residents and cross-border workers without having any effect on the climate. Hence, the government's policy is ideologically-driven rather than intelligent, according to Hoffmann.
He elaborated, stating that Luxembourg's motorways will continue to be used for international transport, but residents would be hit the hardest. By increasing excise duty and introducing a new CO2 tax on 1 January 2021, the government would increase prices by nearly 20 cents a litre in a 20-month period.
