Diesel: the excise duty cut remains at 17 centesimi until 25 August

An extension of the excise duty cut on diesel of 17 centesimi until 25 August 2026. This is the solution that took shape at the Council of Ministers meeting on Thursday 4 August. Before the meeting began at Palazzo Chigi, a summit was held between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Deputy Prime Ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, and the Minister for the Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti. The issue was discussed in view of the expiry on Thursday 6 August of the current reduction (introduced on 28 July).

“We’ve cut some of the ministries’ expenditure; they weren’t very happy about it, but we’ll see,” said Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti as he entered the informal meeting with the presiding officers of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, in response to those asking him about the funding arrangements for the extension of the reduction in excise duty on diesel. In total, he specified, the measure is worth ‘245 million’.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a social media post, emphasised: ‘We have extended the measures to tackle high fuel prices until 25 August. We are doing our bit to mitigate the effects of the price rises, at a time when the international situation remains very complex. From 25 August, the variable excise duty mechanism will come back into force, and we will continue to monitor it closely to assess any need for further action.”

The Government’s decision was taken after it emerged that fuel prices were still on the rise. According to the latest data from the Mimit Fuel Price Observatory, the average price of diesel at self-service pumps across the national road network has risen to 2.100 euros per litre, whilst the figure recorded on 3 August stood at 2.097. The average price has therefore risen to its highest level since 29 July, the day after the latest excise duty cut approved by the government came into effect, which reduced the rate for diesel by 17 cents from 28 July to 6 August. As for petrol, the average self-service price remains stable at 1.999 euro per litre, again on the national road network. On motorways, however, the average price is 2.084 euro for unleaded petrol and 2.173 for diesel.

The day was also marked by a series of statements from representatives of the government and the opposition. “Cutting excise duties on petrol and diesel is essential. We shouldn’t be asking smokers or young people enjoying a cocktail this summer to foot the bill, but rather the major Italian banks that are raking in tens of billions of euros in profits,” said Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini in a video posted on X. “With a small contribution from them,” explains Salvini, “we can reduce excise duties not just for 15 days, but for a whole year, helping those who use their car, van or lorry every day for work, as well as families setting off on holiday. This is the Lega’s proposal.”