Fuels

Decree in force: 25 cents per litre cut. Gdf checks on price compliance

Text published in the Official Journal: measures will be in force for 20 days

by Rome Editorial Staff

18 March 2026Aggiornato il 19 marzo 2026, ore 10:44

In Gazzetta Ufficiale il Decreto accise che taglia di 25 centesimi a litro il costo dei carburanti per venti giorni LAPRESSE

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The sectors concerned
The Flag Standard
Salvini: from next hours down prices
Schlein: an election decree is coming

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Immediate procedure for the approximately EUR 500 million (527.4) fuel decree approved last night, Wednesday 18 March, by the Council of Ministers. The measure (Decree-Law No. 33 of 18 March 2026) was in fact published in the Official Gazette No. 64 of 18 March 2026. The 25-cent excise tax cut therefore already takes effect today.

The cut costs 417.4 million in 2026 and 6.1 million in 2028, according to the text of the decree. The other planned measures, the tax credit for trucking and the tax credit for fishing, are worth 100 million and 10 million respectively. Much of the coverage is provided by cuts in ministries.

The Ministers of Enterprise, Adolfo Urso, and of the Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, have already this morning, together with the Guardia di Finanza, prepared 'an immediate control action on the fuel distribution network, as provided for by the decree-law approved yesterday', which confers new, important and extraordinary powers on the Garante per la sorveglianza dei prezzi. This was announced in a note from Mimit. A meeting of the steering committee of the Rapid Alert Commission is currently underway, where the Garante will provide the list of distribution operators and companies that have not yet adjusted their fuel prices to the excise cut.

Forced stages for the decree law cutting excise duties, after the go-ahead of the Council of Ministers. President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella signed the decree in Salamanca, Spain, where he is to receive an honorary degree on Thursday.

The text of the decree reached him on his arrival in the Spanish city from where he signed it. The decree, enacted to reduce the price of fuel, which has soared due to the crisis triggered by the war in Iran, has been in force since midnight after being published in the Official Gazette.

Three interventions in particular, announced by the premier Giorgia Meloni on Tg1: the first is the 25 cents per litre tax cut on fuel prices that will last, we learn, for 20 days (pending the understanding of developments in the Middle East). The second is the €10 million tax credit for truck drivers to cover the cost of fuel purchases from March, April and May 2026 at the rate of 20%.

The sectors concerned

The tax credit is also provided for fishermen. "The government is giving concrete support to the fishing sector in Italy with the 20% tax credit for the purchase of fuel." This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida.

"As of tomorrow," the minister points out, "our fishermen will be able to cushion the increases in the cost of fuel needed to operate their boats. It is a measure that has an impact both on our fishing businesses and on citizens who will be able to continue to choose quality food without further increases resulting from the rise in production costs borne by fishermen".

Il bonus carburanti, gli incentivi all’elettrico e la salute finanziaria

The Flag Standard

The third is the flag law against speculation that Il Sole 24 Ore had the opportunity to view. The government is calling into play Mister Prezzi, who will have to manage 'a special regime of control of distorting phenomena along the fuel supply chain'. In practice, if monitoring reveals 'an abnormal and sudden increase in prices', he will have to inform the Guardia di Finanza of distributors and oil companies to be controlled, in order to hunt for possible speculative phenomena.

The Fiamme Gialle will then forward the results to the Price Supervisory Authority itself and to the antitrust authority 'for the possible initiation of sanctioning proceedings'. In the most serious cases, they will then forward the papers to the judicial authorities.

As can be seen, the new rule does not change, nor could it, the existing regulatory and sanctioning framework in case of speculation, which is always very complicated to prove. But it looks more like the political objective of flexing one's muscles against what are considered excessive price movements.

Salvini: from next hours down prices

'Today I summoned 37 representatives of the oil companies and demanded responsibility. A few minutes ago the Cdm approved the fuels decree that envisages a substantial cut in excise duties, which will turn into a reduction in the price of petrol and diesel as early as the next few hours". Thus the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, to 10 minutes on Rete 4.

Schlein: here comes an election decree

On excise duties Giorgia Meloni 'intervenes with a decree for 20 days. If this illegal war is not stopped, this will remain an electoral decree'. This was said by the Pd secretary speaking to 'The horse and the tower' on Rai3.