Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini told the newspaper Mattino 5 that he will bring a decree to the next Council of Ministers that delays the planned ban on Euro 5 diesel vehicles in several Italian zones.
Salvini said the decree, which he will personally present, contains a provision to suspend the "stop" on the circulation of Euro 5 diesel cars that the government had slated for certain areas of the country.
He framed the measure as part of a broader legislative package designed to provide "oxygen" to hundreds of thousands of Italians through 2027, suggesting the ban would otherwise harm those communities.
The transport minister criticised what he called the European Union’s "pseudo‑green ideology," arguing that Brussels‑driven environmental rules are causing damage to Italian citizens.
Salvini added that he hopes for a more balanced representation in Brussels, implying that a shift in EU attitudes could ease the pressure on Italy’s transport policies.
The comments were made during an interview with Mattino 5, and no specific timeline for the decree’s adoption was disclosed beyond its expected presentation at the upcoming cabinet meeting.