The minister of Environment and Energy of Portugal defended that taxation on fuels is "very important" to fund the National Health Service, thus explaining the price difference between Portugal and Spain. The person in charge of the Portuguese executive highlighted that the neighboring country applies different taxation on these issues.
The comparison with Spain arises because fuels in Portugal tend to be more expensive than in the neighboring country. The minister acknowledged that there are differences in prices practiced on both sides of the border, but defended the current Portuguese fiscal policy.
The government official highlighted that taxation on fuels represents a significant source of revenue for funding the NHS. This position justifies, according to the minister, the maintenance of current taxation in Portugal, even if it means higher prices for consumers.
