Fuel bill, Senate OK: from tax credits (yet to be implemented) to cuts in ministries

The fuel decree passes, almost without being adjusted, in the Senate. The text, containing the excise tax cut of 24.4 cents per litre, was approved in the House with 83 votes in favour, 53 no and no abstentions, and now passes to the Chamber. The opponents, in particular, expressed opposition not only to the effectiveness of the measures but also to the choice of sectors affected by the linear cuts to ensure coverage.

The decree-law, which was passed by the Council of Ministers on 18 March in response to the high price of petrol and diesel, lays down 'urgent provisions on oil prices related to the international market crises, including the temporary reduction (until 7 April) of excise duties on petrol, diesel and LPG'.

An amendment (2-bis) enriched the spending review article by EUR 527.4 million requested from the ministries. From the Ministry of the Economy, which had to cut just 127.5 million, almost all of it (97%) came by sacrificing reimbursements to individuals and companies.

Continuing, almost one hundred million from the Ministry of Infrastructure has been put at the expense of the development and safety of road mobility. While as for the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (Mase), among the approximately 15.6 million that will be cut to sustainable development and protection of land and the environment, the biggest sacrifice will be borne by the protection, conservation and enhancement of fauna and flora, protection of biodiversity and the marine ecosystem (9.5 million) and the protection and management of water resources and the territory and prevention of hydrogeological risk (about 3.3 million).

More than 500 million recovered in mid-March to cut the cost of fuel during the (partially halted) rise to record highs. The 24.4 cents per litre discount for both petrol and diesel expired on 7 April but was extended until 1 May.