On July 24, 2026, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a meeting at Palazzo Chigi with Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti to discuss the surge in fuel prices. According to sources from the Prime Minister's office, the government is working on possible measures, with particular focus on activating the so-called mobile excise mechanism.

The meeting followed a significant rise in fuel prices. According to data from the Ministry of Enterprises' price observatory, the average self-service price of diesel reached 2.161 euros per liter, while gasoline stood at 1.968 euros. On the highway network, gasoline reached 2.059 euros and diesel 2.228 euros per liter. These levels exceed the records set in March 2022, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Prices have been rising by one to two cents per day, a trend linked to the escalation of the conflict in Iran and the rise in oil prices, with Brent crude nearing 100 dollars per barrel.

The increases accelerated after the expiration of the last excise tax cut on July 3, 2026. Since then, the government had not renewed discounts at the pump, but the recent price surge has prompted renewed attention to the issue.

The mobile excise mechanism under consideration would use the extra VAT revenue generated by rising fuel prices to temporarily reduce the fixed component of excise taxes. The mechanism is triggered when the average price of crude oil exceeds a set threshold. However, estimates indicate a limited impact: the discount would amount to roughly 6 to 10 cents per liter. Moreover, the mechanism would take effect with a delay, as the extra VAT revenue can only be quantified around August 10, making it impossible to intervene before early August. For this reason, the government is also considering additional budget coverage to fund broader discounts. The next Council of Ministers is scheduled for August 4, but a decree could be adopted as early as the coming week.

The European Union has indicated that there are currently no fuel supply problems, though it warned that the impact of the conflict could materialize in the coming weeks.

Trade associations have reported significant costs. According to Cna, the additional cost of gasoline and diesel from March 1 to July, compared to average February prices, exceeds 4.5 billion euros, with approximately 850 million euros in the first 24 days of July alone. Codacons calculated that over the last three weeks diesel rose by 27.9 cents on the regular network and 26 cents on highways, while gasoline increased by 16.5 cents. According to these figures, a full tank of diesel now costs about 14 euros more than on July 3, and gasoline about 8.25 euros more. Confesercenti estimated that the July and August price increases will weigh on families to the tune of 700 million euros.

The causes of the increases are debated. Unem, which represents oil companies, stated that prices could rise by up to 8 cents more in August, as margins on oil price increases had not yet been fully recovered, and noted that the budget flexibility granted by Brussels on energy cannot fund generalized temporary discounts. Consumer associations, on the other hand, spoke of an asymmetric effect, with price increases reaching the pump within 24 to 48 hours while reductions take weeks. According to Unimpresa, the price of diesel has risen more than the crude oil increase alone would justify, in some cases by double, leading to allegations of speculation against companies and distributors.

In the freight transport sector, Fai (Federazione Autotrasportatori Italiani) expressed opposition to the mobile excise mechanism, arguing it would penalize the sector and cancel out the funds allocated following the recent dispute with the government. Fai called for the urgent convening of a negotiating table.

Opposition parties have criticized the government's handling of the situation. The Democratic Party called for the immediate reactivation of mobile excises, describing the measure as already provided for by law at zero cost to the treasury, and accused the majority of focusing only on electoral law. PD secretary Elly Schlein met with regional secretaries to launch a social campaign on fuel costs. M5S leader Giuseppe Conte accused the government of concluding the Council of Ministers without any intervention on fuel prices. M5S deputy Chiara Appendino recalled past opposition pledges to abolish excises. The PD also put forward additional proposals, from decoupling electricity prices from gas prices to more incisive control powers against speculation.

Codacons demanded an immediate cut of at least 15 cents per liter on diesel excises, 18.3 including VAT, to bring prices back below two euros, and stated that the government is collecting additional revenue from rising prices through VAT and excises, which account for over 50% of the cost of each liter of fuel purchased in Italy.