Poor may get help with fuel costs

PEOPLE on a low income could receive help with the cost of fuel.

A spokesman for the minister for finance and economy, Pierre Moscovici, has announced a study to reduce the burden of fuel costs on poorer people.

The government's interim reduction of fuel prices, introduced at the end of August, expires at the end of the month.

Since it was introduced, prices have dropped 10 centimes, three coming from the state and two from petrol suppliers, the rest due to the drop in the price of oil.

While the department has said permanent measures will be in place, it has yet to announce any details.

“It's one of the avenues we're looking at,” said the spokesman.

According to the newspaper JDD, the measure could be linked with those covered by the CMU, couverture maladie universelle, state healthcare system and could cost several hundred thousand of euros a year.

The department is unclear how it will distinguish between those with cars and those without.

Another idea being studied is to gradually remove the fuel reduction, to avoid a shock.

Photo:Kiril Havezov