The Council of Ministers approved a decree reducing the price of diesel by 17 cents per liter, including excise duties and VAT, until August 6. The measure was announced by Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti during a press conference following the cabinet meeting.

Giorgetti specified that the reduction applies only to diesel and that the cost of the operation is approximately 125 million euros. He also stated that there will be no increase in tobacco excise duties, after Forza Italia and Lega expressed opposition to raising taxes on tobacco products to fund the fuel discount.

A new Council of Ministers meeting is scheduled for August 4 to assess fuel price trends and decide on possible further measures. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini stated that the government is ready to intervene again if necessary.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a message on social media, described the measure as a timely response to rising fuel costs, which she attributed to international tensions. She acknowledged that the measure does not fully resolve the problem but framed it as a responsible action given the available resources.

RaiNews described the measure as a stopgap aimed at mitigating record prices at fuel stations.

The same decree also includes an additional 100 million euros for the extraordinary administration of the former Ilva steel plant in Taranto, to support the ongoing sale process. This provision had been prepared before the recent ruling by the Milan Court of Appeal, which ordered the suspension of production activity in the hot area of the plant.