Meloni says Italy signed haulage deal, adds diesel tax-credit funds and anti-blockade measures

Over the past few hours, the Government, through Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Salvini, has signed an agreement with road haulage associations, with whom we have always engaged in dialogue and whom I thank for their cooperation, which they have never failed to provide during these difficult months. It is not 'promises' that have been signed, but rather resources that are already arriving in this sector.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has already begun making payments and, over the coming days, businesses will receive an advance on the tax credit for diesel regarding the period from March to August 2026, which we are covering in full. Checks will be carried out at a later date, because those who work cannot just stand still, held up by bureaucracy.

Starting from November, we will also be unblocking overdue payments for sea freight; we are providing fresh funding for the September-October 2026 tax credit, adding an extra EUR 106 million to the EUR 434 million already allocated in recent months; and we are allowing more time to use these credits, namely up to 31 March 2027. Furthermore, we are introducing another set of measures requested by the associations , whom the Minister has met with over the last few hours , such as the possibility to postpone the payment of leasing instalments or the mandatory adjustment of certain types of contracts , those with fewer safeguards , to the cost of fuel.

These responses must be rolled out immediately, which is why we called a dedicated Council of Ministers meeting today. We approved the regulations needed to complete the agreement.

Moreover, with Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Lollobrigida, we have provided further measures for our farmers and fishermen. We are allocating EUR 60 million to a non-repayable grant for the cost of agricultural diesel, which in practice will mean a discount of up to 45 cents per litre, for over 120 million litres.

In addition, we are earmarking EUR 10 million for fisheries. In this regard too, we know how complex the situation is for our fishermen.

An agreement has been signed and payments have already gone out. We held a Council of Ministers meeting today.

This is how this Government operates, during what is undoubtedly a complex time, to try and provide immediate responses, especially for workers, those facing hardship and families. I would like to thank the associations for choosing dialogue and withdrawing their blocks and protests.

However, I would also like to say something else: in some areas, there are a few individuals who continue to block the roads and are going even further: they are threatening those who want to work, slashing the tyres of their colleagues' trucks. That is not a form of protest; that is intimidation.

We do not tolerate intimidation, and I am not the only one saying so. It is the hauliers themselves, along with retailers, farmers, mayors and institutions of all political colours, who are asking for these blocks to be removed because, as always, it is not those in power who pay the price , it is ordinary people.

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