OK by the Chamber

The fuel decree is law: from tax credits to cuts in ministries, here is what it provides for

The cost of the decree, which we recall is only the first (out of three, so far) to counter fuel price rises, was 527.4 million, covered by cuts to ministries. With an amendment approved in the Senate, the source of these funds was requested to be further investigated

by Rome Editorial Staff

12 May 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Tax credits
More power to Mr Price
The cost of intervention and the detailed spending review of ministries

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The first fuel decree has become law. The OK for the text (Decree 33/2026) also arrived in the Chamber of Deputies, with 147 votes in favour and 79 against. This is the measure that cut excise duties on diesel and petrol by 24.4 cents per litre from 19 March to 7 April. Which - in addition to that temporary intervention, later extended - introduced a tax credit for hauliers and companies in the fishing industry and strengthened controls against speculation.

Tax Credits

Let us start with the facilities, which have yet to be activated by implementing decrees.

A tax credit 'commensurate with the higher expenditure' on diesel fuel incurred in March, April and May compared to February has been granted to companies in the transportation sector. The maximum limit for the intervention is 100 million for 2026.

With regard tofishing, on the other hand, a tax credit of 20% was introduced, again for expenditure incurred for the purchase of fuel in March, April and May. In this case, the limit is €10 million.

More power to Mr Price

In addition, the decree that became law strengthened the price watchdog of the Ministry of Enterprise, the so-called Mister Prezzi, for three months (i.e. until mid-June).

The authority was entrusted, 'with the operational support of the Guardia di Finanza, with the task of monitoring the entire supply chain in order to identify and promptly repress any speculative manoeuvres'.

A 'hot' topic especially during the first days when the government's excise tax cut came into effect

The cost of intervention and the detailed spending review of ministries

The cost of the decree, which let us remember is only the first (out of three, so far) to counter rising fuel prices, was 527.4 million, covered by cuts to ministries. With an amendment approved in the Senate, a request was made to investigate the origin of these funds.

From the Ministry of the Economy, which had to cut just 127.5 million, almost all of it (97%) came by sacrificing refunds to individuals and companies.

Then, almost one hundred million from the Ministry of Infrastructure were put towards the development and safety of road mobility.

While as far as the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (Mase) is concerned, among the approximately 15.6 million that will be cut to sustainable development and protection of the land and environment, the biggest sacrifice will be borne by the protection, conservation and valorisation of fauna and flora, preservation of biodiversity and the marine ecosystem (9.5 million) and the protection and management of water resources and the territory and the prevention of hydrogeological risk (approximately 3.3 million).