Italy postpones regional ban on old diesel vehicles

AFP |  Rome, Italy

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government intervened Thursday to postpone a ban on older diesel cars in the heavily-polluted north, following protests by motorists.

The region of Piedmont had blamed pressure from the European Union for its plans to introduce a daytime, weekday ban on so-called Euro 5 standard vehicles in Turin and more than 70 other municipalities starting on September 15.

But environment and energy minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin revealed this would be pushed back to October 1, 2024 and the number of affected areas reduced.

"The government has intervened... to avoid a social and economic crisis for families and businesses," he said, while insisting EU commitments on cutting pollution would be met.

Piedmont's regional president, Alberto Cirio, said the region had been "forced" into the ban by a European infringement procedure.

He said the central government decree now allowed them to re-evaluate measures already taken to cut pollution, including boosting energy efficiency and scrapping 700 polluting buses.

Further action would be taken to increase the use of public transport and replace the most polluting heating systems, Cirio said, insisting the region remained "fully focused on the protection of the environment and health".