Italy’s vice‑premier and transport minister Matteo Salvini told the daily Mattino 5 that he will submit a decree at the next cabinet meeting to delay the ban on Euro 5 diesel vehicles in selected Italian zones, arguing the measure will safeguard hundreds of thousands of people through 2027.
Speaking to Mattino 5, Salvini said the upcoming decree will contain a provision to “postpone this senseless stop” on the circulation of Euro 5 diesel cars, a restriction that currently applies to certain urban areas across Italy.
He added that the decree is part of a broader legislative package he described as giving “oxygen to hundreds of thousands of people for the whole of 2027,” implying that the suspension will alleviate what he sees as undue hardship for motorists and residents.
Salvini also criticised what he called the “pseudo‑green ideology of Brussels,” claiming it is causing damage and urging that “more balanced” voices be represented in EU decision‑making.
The minister’s announcement underscores a growing tension between Italy’s national government and European environmental directives, with the proposed postponement likely delaying the rollout of stricter emissions standards in the affected regions.