Government

Giorgetti: if war continues, reflection on 3% deficit inevitable

Cdm green light for extension of excise tax cut

by Rome Editorial Staff

3 April 2026

Il Ministro dell’Economia Giancarlo Giorgetti durante la conferenza stampa dopo il Consiglio dei Ministri tenutosi a Palazzo Chigi a Roma LAPRESSE

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The European Commission closes, at least for now, to the suspension of the Stability Pact despite the energy crisis linked to the war in the Middle East. And while from Rome Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti warns that "reflection at European level, if the situation does not change, will be inevitable", Istat data confirm a deficit/GDP ratio of 3.1% for 2025, above the 3% threshold needed to close the excessive deficit procedure on Italia.

Meanwhile, on 7 April the cut in excise duty on fuels, launched by the government on 18 March to lower prices, expired: the Council of Ministers on Friday 3 April extended the 24.4 cent reduction until 1 May. The intervention is expected to be worth at least EUR 500 million, of which EUR 30 million will go to support agricultural enterprises. Approximately 200 million will come from the extra VAT revenue through the mobile excise mechanism, the remaining 300 million should come from the 'freezing' of CO2 auctions.

Also on the table is the intervention to 'save' the Transition 5.0 exodus workers who were left with projects started but without state funding due to the exhaustion of funds.

"We have just approved the decree law" and "we extend the excise tax cut until the first of May. In addition to this there is a targeted intervention on farms, to which the tax cut already adopted for fishing is extended. The decree also implements the agreement with the trade associations Transition 5.0,' confirmed Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti at a brief press conference at Palazzo Chigi after the CDM.

Meloni: complex picture, maximum attention to families and businesses

"It is a necessary measure to cope with a particularly delicate phase, marked by international tensions that are producing concrete effects on energy costs and the economy," the Prime Minister wrote on social media, stressing that "we know that the picture remains complex. For this reason, the government will continue to monitor with the utmost attention the evolution of the international scenario and to work on every intervention necessary to protect families, businesses and work".

La proroga dello sconto sulle accise, la povertà e le assunzioni nella sanità

Giorgetti: if war continues, inevitable reflection on 3% deficit

On the hypothesis that the 3% deficit limit would be exceeded due to the energy crisis following the war in Iran, the economy minister explained, "I think it refers to the willingness to ask or not to ask for the derogation clause provided for in the new European economic governance regulation. It is clear that reflection at European level, if the situation does not change, will be inevitable. I expressed this assessment already at the beginning of the conflict, I reiterated it at the Eurogroup at the beginning of the week. I will do so in any international consensus in which I participate, because this is the reality'.