Premier Giorgia Meloni's government
has amended its decree seeking to improve the transparency of
fuel prices in Italy, cutting the fines for gas stations that
fail to comply.
The decree makes it obligatory for gas stations to display the
average fuel prices, alongside their own prices for petrol and
diesel, in a bid to halt speculative hikes.
The measure has angered gas-station operators, who say the blame
is unfairly being pinned on them for fuel-price rises, and they
staged a one-day strike last month to protest.
Fuel prices have risen significantly in Italy since the
government ended a reduction in duties at the turn of the year.
The government agreed to reduce the fines for non compliance in
a bid to find some middle ground with the gas-station operators.
The amendment sees the fines go from 200 to 2,000 euros
depending on the gas-stations' turnover, compared to an original
range of between 500 and 6,000 euros.
However, the possible fines are still above the range of 200 to
800 euros agreed in talks at the business ministry.
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