High fuel prices, the Dems propose halving excise duties in Sicily and Sardinia

Halving excise duties for end consumers in Sicily and Sardinia in the year 2026, in addition to the temporary cut arranged by the government, and introducing an obligation for island refineries to reserve product quotas for local airports and ports. These are the proposals put forward by the Democratic Party in an amendment signed by Senators Antonio Nicita and Marco Meloni to counter the price increase.

The proposal was put forward during the discussion of the fuel decree in the Senate committee by Dem senators Nicita and Meloni, respectively elected in Sicily and Sardinia and members of the Bicameral Insularity Committee. The idea is to include in the decree law on oil prices an amendment to cut excise duties. A rule that, however, would only affect Sicilian and Sardinian consumers.

The reduction of excise duties, for the whole of 2026, cumulative with the emergency cuts of the decree, is based on Article 119, paragraph six, of the Constitution on insularity. At today's average prices, the proposal would entail a percentage reduction of about 13-15% on petrol prices, about 13% on diesel prices, and about 7% on LPG.

Finally, the submitted amendment envisages the activation of PSOs - obligations imposed on specific routes to guarantee minimum scheduled air connections - for flights in Sicily on routes between Rome and Milan. The measures would be covered by an extraordinary contribution from the increased revenues of energy supply companies.

"The islands pay the most expensive fuel on the continent despite hosting about 50 per cent of the national refining capacity: a paradox that the Constitution requires us to correct. Moreover, the risk of islands being exposed to the risk of flight price interruptions or price increases must be averted," the Dem senators commented.