In Hungary, the national-conservative government is putting an end to tank tourism.
As of Friday, drivers with foreign license plates are no longer able to buy fuel at Hungarian petrol stations at discounted prices.
Now they have to pay market prices and thus significantly more for energy and diesel.
On Thursday, drivers stormed the gas pumps, especially in the west of the country on the border with Austria.
Tank tourism has flourished in Hungary in recent months.
The price freeze for petrol and diesel fuel, originally introduced in mid-November, has already been extended twice and is valid until the beginning of July.
Refueling in transit and by commuters who deliberately came to Hungary from neighboring countries to refuel and shop increased fuel sales significantly in recent months.
A liter of petrol or diesel costs the equivalent of 1.24 euros.
In Austria, prices are currently around 1.70 euros and more.
A 60-liter tank filling is around 30 euros cheaper in Hungary, which is around a quarter cheaper.
However, the upper price limits have not only attracted consumers from near the border to the small Central European country, but also made small operators inefficient.
More and more have reacted with a supply shortage.
Chancellery Minister Gergely Gulyás and Economy Minister Márton Nagy announced the end of fuel tourism and significant special taxes for large companies - banks, insurance companies, chain stores, energy companies, pharmaceutical companies, telecom companies and airlines - on Thursday afternoon.
According to Gulyás, refueling in Hungary is the cheapest in Europe.
But there is also abuse and tank tourism, which is why the government has reacted by shutting down foreigners.
The aim is to stop “tank tourism” in the border region.
However, Hungary is likely to be violating the EU principle of equal treatment with this measure.