The government extends the ban on Euro 5 diesel vehicles in the Padano Basin

The Council of Ministers has approved the decree-law which avoids blocking the circulation of Euro 5 diesel vehicles in the Padano Basin. This was reported in a note from MIT. "Great satisfaction from the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, who asked for a targeted intervention from the Government to protect the mobility of citizens and businesses". For Salvini, this is "an important result that meets the concrete needs of families, workers and the production system, avoiding a generalized blockade which would have had significant consequences on mobility and economic activities" continues the MIT. In Italy there are approximately 3.5 million cars and 0.6 million commercial vehicles powered by Euro 5 diesel, while over 1.2 million cars and 200 thousand commercial vehicles are operational in the Padano Basin, adds the note.

"According to a European regulation from 20 years ago we would have had to leave hundreds of thousands" of people "stranded who are guilty of owning a diesel vehicle worth €5.4 million, of which 1.5 million in the Padano basin. A regulation that has nothing green about it, if anything black about it" said Minister Salvini in a press conference at the end of the meeting. The decree provides for the "extension of at least one year of the blocking of these millions of vehicles - explained Salvini - also because in a moment of economic crisis the 'stay at home' response would not have been the solution" for workers "who take their salary home". There will be "time to find environmental mitigation measures", the minister said.