The Council of Ministers approved the decree law with urgent provisions and support measures for the road haulage, agriculture, and fishing sectors. This measure comes after recent protests over the high cost of living, culminating in roadblocks by truck drivers in several regions of Southern Italy .

After the meeting, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted on social media the "agreement with the road haulage associations, resources already paid, and new measures for farmers and fishermen approved today by the Council of Ministers. The government is listening to those who protest peacefully and working to provide concrete solutions."

ROAD TRANSPORT – New funding and a reorganization of the deadlines for the tax credit on fuel purchases for the road transport sector are coming to the road transport sector. The measure amends the provisions of Legislative Decree 162/2026, reshaping the resources and the timeframe for benefiting from tax breaks related to diesel price increases. The first tranche of the tax credit is limited to the period March-August 2026 (rather than until September). For this measure, the spending authorization is increased by €66.4 million. For expenses incurred for diesel purchases from September 1 to October 5, 2026, a new tax credit measure is introduced, with a maximum limit of €60 million for the current year. Given the time required to process applications, the bonus for the September-October period can only be used as an offset (via the F24 form) by December 31, 2027. The total resources allocated for the measure in 2026 increase to €126.4 million (compared to the previous €21.2 million). The increased overall costs for 2026 (approximately €737.45 million in the text) will be covered through corresponding reductions in spending authorizations and existing funds, including the reduction in funding provided by the Ristori and Relaunch decrees.

AGRICULTURE – A special non-repayable grant is coming to support agricultural businesses impacted by rising fuel prices. This is provided for in a provision included in the draft of the new Aid Decree, which allocates a total of €60 million for 2026 to primary sector entrepreneurs. The measure entrusts the operational management and direct disbursement of the resources to AGEA. The non-repayable grant will cover 20% of the costs incurred for fuel purchases between June 1 and October 15, 2026, up to a maximum of 45 euro cents per liter purchased.

FISHING – Fishing entrepreneurs will receive a non-repayable grant equal to 10% of the expenditure incurred on June 1st and October 15th, up to a maximum of €10 million for 2026, to cover the increased costs incurred for fuel purchases.

(Unioneonline/lf)

© Riproduzione riservata