Key Points:
- Fuel prices surged globally after the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February 2026.
- The average cost of petrol across the European Union jumped 12% to €1.83 per liter.
- Diesel drivers suffered an even bigger shock as prices skyrocketed 26% to €2.01 per liter.
- Gas prices remain high across Europe despite a fragile ceasefire agreement signed in early April.
Drivers across Europe still pay much more at the pump today. The recent military strikes completely changed the energy market. The United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran fired back, and the region fell into chaos. Washington and Tehran finally agreed to a ceasefire on April 8. Even though the fighting stopped for now, the fuel market did not recover. People still face high costs every time they fill up their gas tanks to drive to work or take their kids to school.
The European Commission releases a Weekly Oil Bulletin that tracks these costs. Analysts examined this data to determine exactly how much prices changed between February 23 and April 20. The average price of regular petrol across the European Union rose from €1.64 to €1.83 per liter. This represents a 12% increase for regular drivers. The sudden jump hit family budgets hard right before the busy summer driving season.
Some countries felt the pain much more than others. Petrol prices jumped 22% in Belgium, Czechia, and Bulgaria. Among the largest economies, France recorded an 18% increase at the pump. Drivers in Germany paid 15% more to keep their cars running. Spain and Italy saw smaller increases, with prices rising 3% and 7% respectively. Malta stood out as the only country where petrol prices remained unchanged throughout the entire crisis.
Other European nations also watched their petrol prices climb quickly. Greece experienced a 17% jump. Drivers in Finland and Denmark paid 14% more to fill their tanks. Hungary reported a 13% increase, the Netherlands saw an 11% rise, and Ireland faced a 10% hike. Because these numbers use euro values, changing exchange rates might have influenced the final costs in countries that use different national currencies.
People who drive diesel cars suffered an even bigger financial shock. The average price of diesel fuel in the European Union skyrocketed from €1.59 to €2.01 per liter. This massive 26% jump is more than double the price increase that petrol drivers faced. Businesses that rely on diesel trucks to deliver goods now pass these high extra costs down to everyday shoppers at the grocery store.
Bulgaria recorded the worst diesel price hike in Europe, soaring a massive 43%. France followed closely behind with a 36% jump. Estonia saw a 35% increase, and Belgium reported a 33% rise. Several other nations, including Cyprus, Croatia, and Latvia, saw their diesel prices rise by more than 30%. The shipping and logistics companies in these countries took a huge financial hit during the spring months.
The biggest European economies also struggled with diesel costs. Spain saw a 27% rise, pushing it past the European average. Italy reported a 24% jump, and Germany followed with a 23% increase. Only a few places escaped the diesel price explosion. Malta recorded zero price increases for diesel fuel. Hungary and Romania saw only a 13% rise, while Poland kept its increase to 15%.
Looking at the actual price per liter on April 20 shows a wide gap between nations. The Netherlands charges the highest price for petrol at €2.28 per liter. Denmark charges €2.22, while Germany asks for €2.11. Greece and France also push drivers past the €2 mark, charging €2.03 and €2.02 per liter. On the cheaper side, Malta sells petrol for just €1.34 per liter. Poland charges €1.41, Bulgaria charges €1.47, and Spain charges €1.52.
The Netherlands also tops the charts for diesel fuel, charging drivers €2.30 per liter. Finland asks for €2.25, France charges €2.24, and Denmark sits at €2.22. Belgium rounds out the top five most expensive diesel markets at €2.19 per liter. Germany and Italy remain near the top, charging €2.13 and €2.11, respectively. Spain stands alone as the only large economy where diesel costs less than the European average. Malta remains the cheapest place to buy diesel at just €1.21 per liter, followed by Poland at €1.64 per liter.
Tracking the weekly numbers shows exactly how the conflict manipulated the market. Prices actually started climbing in the weeks leading up to the military strikes. Petrol went from €1.64 on February 23 to almost €1.90 by the end of March. Diesel shot up from €1.60 to over €2.06 during the same period. Both fuels hit their highest prices in early April, with diesel briefly surpassing €2.10 per liter.
When leaders signed the fragile ceasefire on April 8, the global fuel market finally took a breath. Prices slowly started to drop across the continent. However, drivers still pay significantly more today than they did before the conflict began. High taxes across Europe make these sudden price jumps feel even worse for the consumer.
According to 2024 data, 67% of new cars registered in Europe run on petrol, while 17% use diesel and 14% rely strictly on battery power. This means the vast majority of European citizens still feel the daily financial impact of these overseas conflicts every single time they visit the gas station.
