Brussels, 16/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - After a long debate about the hike in fuel prices, especially oil, ministers confirmed the 2005 Manchester Agreement at their meeting on Thursday 15 March, explained th Hungarian finance minister, György Matolcsy. Under the Manchester Agreement, member states pledge to avoid any short-term tax changes that would prevent consumers from changing behaviour in line with oil prices predicted to stay high over the long-term. According to a Hungarian Presidency statement, the ministers said that short-term measures to help the most vulnerable should avoid making any distortions in the market and should concentrate on structural reforms to make the EU economy shock-resistant. (M.B./transl.fl)