Italian Truckers Block Highways Over Fuel Costs; Government Releases €480M in Aid

Italian truckers are protesting high fuel costs, blocking highways and ports, causing significant disruption. The government announced it is releasing €480 million in aid, up from the initially planned €430 million, to address the protests. The protests have caused severe supply chain issues, particularly for produce from southern Italy. The Rome food market reports shortages of items like peppers and tomatoes, with prices for some Sicilian tomatoes exceeding €5 per kilogram. Supermarket chains Famila and Dok have warned customers of temporary delivery interruptions. Deputy Minister Edoardo Rixi stated that payments for tax credit applications submitted by August 30 have begun. Minister Matteo Salvini noted that while €430 million was already budgeted, bureaucratic hurdles are being cleared to speed up disbursement, and additional European funds are being sought for fleet renewal.