Rising prices

Cdm OK for new fuel decree: excise duty cut until 6 June

The reduction on diesel drops from 20 to 10 cents and that on petrol remains at 5 cents. To this discount must be added the drop due to the VAT mechanism

by Rome Editorial Staff

22 May 2026

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È atteso sul tavolo del Consiglio dei ministri il quarto decreto accise IMAGOECONOMICA

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Versione italiana

Key points

Measures for the former Ilva
Solutions to avoid trucking strike
Lollobrigida, 100 million to buy fertilisers and agricultural diesel from Cdm

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Council of Ministers gave the green light on 22 May 2026 to the new fuel decree that extends the cut in excise duties and allocates, among other things, another 200 million for road haulage, as announced by the government to the trade associations at the meeting preceding the CDM. The measure also contains support for farmers.

The measure provides for a cut in excise duties on fuels until 6 June. In fact, the excise tax cut of 20 cents per litre for diesel and 5 cents per litre for petrol, decided on 2 May, expired on 22 May.

A measure initiated on 19 March, after the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and repeatedly extended. The cut costs the state about EUR 1 billion per month, and is partly financed by the VAT increase on fuels themselves.

The reduction on diesel drops from 20 to 10 cents and that on petrol remains at 5 cents. To this discount must be added the drop due to the VAT mechanism.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also announced in the Cdm yesterday 'two programmes each of 75 million, the first for securing the territory, the second for compensation to homeowners' in the area affected by the Niscemi landslide.

Also on the agenda is the preliminary examination of a legislative decree with provisions on the organisation of tax jurisdiction, and a bill to ratify the agreement on the interpretation and application of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Measures for the former Ilva

The day before the executive meeting, Giorgetti anticipated that there would also be a measure in favour of the ex-Ilva. 'I think we will go for a decree-law tomorrow evening,' said Giorgetti, speaking at the Festival of Economics underway in Trento. From what has transpired, it is about 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.

Solutions to avoid trucking strike

As had already transpired, the new extension will be accompanied by specific measures for road hauliers and local public transport. The road hauliers' associations have in fact decided to suspend the service stoppage proclaimed in recent days from 25 to 29 May.

Lollobrigida, from Cdm 100 million for the purchase of fertilisers and agricultural diesel

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a considerable increase in the price of fertilisers and agricultural diesel. In a note, Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida announced that the government had allocated 100 million euro for their purchase.

"We recognise a 30 per cent tax credit for fertilisers, financed with EUR 40 million, for the months of March, April and May. I point out,' reads the note, 'that this measure is in addition to the stop on fertiliser tariffs decided this morning in Brussels. We are also reinforcing the response to the increase in agricultural diesel prices by financing the 20 per cent tax credit already granted in March'.

This measure is funded with EUR 60 million, which increases the total budget from EUR 30 million to EUR 90 million for March, April and May.