Since the deregulation of the prices of diesel and regular at petrol stations along motorways was on the agenda of today's government session, it was expected that the government will endorse it today.

However, the decision on what is seen as the next step towards liberalisation after the prices of premium petrol and heating oil were fully deregulated in April was postponed to next week.

The exact date is not know yet, Public Administration Minister Boris Koprivnikar said after today's session.

According to him, the decision was not made today because of the question of whether the prices are set based on a product or an area where they are sold.

There was also a demand for further analyses of concrete effects of the existing deregulation of the prices of premium and heating oil, he explained.

If the decree on the deregulation is endorsed, a possible increase in the prices of diesel and regular can be expected on 22 November.

The decree also allows for the government to start regulating the prices again if any mayor price hikes occur.

The prices of diesel and regular elsewhere around the country will still be adjusted every two weeks in line with a government model that considers global oil prices and the euro-dollar exchange rate.

The new regime should be in place by the end of June 2017.

The relaxing of the diesel and regular prices along the motorways was announced in June by Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, who advocates full liberalisation of fuel prices.

The Finance Ministry is meanwhile reserved, fearing a negative effect on the national budget, which is why various analyses are still being conducted.