High fuel prices, towards excise cuts until the first week of June
The government meeting is convened for 7 p.m. Expected on the fiscal side is the extension to 20 or 31 July of the payments due on 30 June for VAT numbers obliged to the Isa
Key points
A fourth excise decree to limit the impact of the fuel race on Italians' pockets. Measures for the former Ilva, and the securing and compensation for Niscemi. Lastly, on the tax front, the extension to 20 or 31 July of the payments due on 30 June for VAT holders obliged to the Isa. But for those who pay within a month of the due date, the surcharge is 0.8 per cent (and not 0.4 per cent). This is the package of solutions expected on the table of the Council of Ministers in the coming hours. The government meeting is convened for 7 p.m. today, Friday 22 May.
"I left for Cyprus with an already outlined framework that is being further defined. I believe we will go for a decree-law tomorrow (today, Friday 22 May, ed.)'. Thus the Minister of the Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, from the Trento Festival, speaking of the text that will land on the table of the Council of Ministers in the coming hours.
In the decree, the head of the Mef anticipated, 'we foresee interventions that will benefit, for example, road hauliers and local public transport with the cut in excise duties until the first week of June', but he added on question 'it could be extended'. Among other things, 'there will also be an intervention to ensure the continuation of the activities of the former Ilva'.
As far as fuels are concerned, the hypothesis that emerged in the hours before the executive meeting is that of an extension of the cut in excise duties on diesel and petrol until the first week of June. In addition, there would be support for road hauliers and local public transport. These solutions should enter into a decree law.
Measures for the former Ilva
Giorgetti added that there will also be a measure in favour of the ex-Ilva. 'I believe that a decree-law will be passed tomorrow evening,' Giorgetti said. From what has been leaked, it is the extension of the 149 million bridging loan granted at the end of April to allow the company to move forward. However, the money is only enough until the end of June, and the government intends to take advantage of the elasticity of up to 380 million granted by the EU.
There is talk of a EUR 240 million loan in total, but divided into two stages: EUR 100 million should be included in the excise decree today, while a further EUR 140 million would be decided in July.
