EU Commission approves €300m Italian aid for hauliers

Road transport companies with a registered or head office in Italy receive a tax credit covering up to 70% of the crisis-driven additional cost of fuel purchased between March and June 2026. The credit can be offset against income tax, VAT or social security contributions until 31 December 2026.

The background is the rise in diesel prices caused by the Middle East crisis: compared with February 2026, Italian prices were 16.9% higher in March, 23.3% higher in April and 18% higher in May. The Commission judged the scheme necessary, appropriate and proportionate. The approval is one of a series of comparable decisions — €402m was cleared for Spain and €54m for Luxembourg on 24 July. At the time of recording the decision was not yet listed in the EU press corner; sources: EUNews plus MLex and Il Sole 24 Ore.