The cost of diesel in several European countries could rise after the European Parliament backed proposals to increase the current EU minimum excise tax rate on diesel to match that for unleaded petrol.

MEPs want to phase the increase from Euro 302/1,000 litres to Euro 359 by 2015.

Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania having will have until 2016 to implement the changes, while Spain, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and Greece will have to act immediately.