The government is extending the fuel excise tax cut for another two weeks, until June 8, and is granting €300 million in tax credits to truckers, who are suspending their strike planned for May 25-29.

The measures are contained in a decree approved by the Council of Ministers this evening, following an afternoon meeting between the Prime Minister and several ministers and road haulage organizations. The excise tax cut of 20 cents per liter on diesel and 5 cents per liter on gasoline, approved on May 2nd and expiring today, has been extended until June 8th. The funds (estimated at €400 million) will be raised from VAT overruns, antitrust fines, and various other cuts.

Meanwhile, according to the daily report from the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, in Sardinia today the average price of self-service diesel stands at 1,992 euros, while that of gasoline "stops" at 1,979.

The extension decree also includes a series of measures to support road haulage, to prevent the strike announced to address fuel prices.

€300 million in tax credits for truck drivers is allocated: €100 million was already envisaged in previous fuel decrees, but was not disbursed, while €200 million is new funding. The deadline for quarterly excise tax refunds is halved, from 60 to 30 days, and the government has committed to considering a limited suspension of payments for certain taxes and contributions. Finally, the General Consultation for Road Transport is being reconstituted as a permanent forum for discussion between the government and businesses.

The measures for road haulage were presented to industry organizations at 5 p.m., before the Council of Ministers (which began at 7 p.m.), during a meeting at Palazzo Chigi with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ministers Giorgetti, Salvini, Urso, Foti, Undersecretary Mantovano, and Deputy Minister Rixi. Truck drivers complained in particular that the excise duty cut for everyone had led to a reduction in excise duty reimbursements, which benefited them.

The prime minister acknowledged that road transport is "fundamental to the country's economy," but emphasized that structural solutions to energy and fuel problems depend on European decisions.

At the meeting, Matteo Salvini reiterated the need to derogate from the Stability Pact to help families and businesses facing the energy crisis caused by the war in Iran. The meeting nevertheless had the desired effect. At the end, the organizations announced the suspension of the strike.

(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)

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