Green light from the Council of Ministers to new fuel decree and extension il cut of excise duties up to May 1. “We have just approved the decree law” and “we are extending the excise duty cuts until May 1st. In addition to this, there is a targeted intervention on farms, which extends the tax cut already adopted for fishing (extension of the tax credit to 20%). The decree also incorporates the agreement with trade associations. Transition 5.0“said the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti at a press conference at Palazzo Chigi after the Council of Ministers. In parallel, the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strengthened the external front with a surprise mission in the Gulf to ensure energy supplies and consolidate strategic relationships.
Fuel and the extension of the excise tax cut: what Giorgetti said
Giorgetti then clarified that "to cover the extension" of the fuel decree "funds have been allocated 500 million“. More specifically, given that “the burden is around 500 million, 200 million is self-coverage resulting from the increase in VAT revenue, for another 300 million these are funds that have been recovered from ETS resources that had not yet been used, taking care not to touch those that had originally been allocated to the relief for energy-hungry people".
And then: "International events will suggest other possible interventions in a very complicated situation, including from an economic perspective. It's clear that a European-level discussion, if the situation doesn't change, will be inevitable. I expressed this reflection at the beginning of the conflict, I reiterated it at the Eurogroup, and I will do so in any international forum I participate in, because this is the reality. The issue of the duration of the conflict will, unfortunately, have consequences both on monetary policies both on that one fiscal of the countries that suffer these effects,” Giorgetti added.
Meloni in the Gulf: Energy and Diplomacy at the Heart of the Mission
The President of the Council Giorgia Meloni has undertaken a two-day surprise mission in the Persian Gulf, landing at Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, to then also visit United Arab Emirates e QatarThis is the first visit by a Western leader to the region since the conflict in Iran began.
The goals main one is twofold: to ensure the energy supplies of Italy, securing oil and gas supplies, and supporting a possible diplomatic path to reach a cease-fire, maintaining open channels with the parties involved in the conflict. The visit also serves to reaffirm Italy's closeness to the countries in the region and to protect national investments, especially in the energy sector, at a time when international tensions risk having a direct impact on the Italian economy.
Last updated Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM
