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Government approves relief decree as transport protests suspended in South

After days of road blockades over fuel prices, the Italian cabinet approves a 500-million-euro support package for hauliers, farmers and fisheries; major unions suspend demonstrations in Sicily and Calabria.

22 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Government approves relief decree as transport protests suspended in South — Archive photoPhoto: Uploaded and edidet by AM ( talk ) · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Protests by hauliers and farmers, launched in response to rising fuel prices, caused significant disruption in southern regions. Blockades on motorways A1 and A30, traffic queues and closures affected food and pharmaceutical distribution services. Airports in Crotone and Reggio Calabria reported fuel shortages, while mayors of Bari and Naples flagged difficulties in waste collection and transport services.

The Government convened the Council of Ministers to address the situation. During the meeting at Palazzo Chigi, the Interior Ministry guaranteed continuity of supplies for essential goods and medicine delivery. The Council of Ministers then approved a decree with urgent provisions and support measures for the haulage, agriculture and fishing sectors, allocating over 500 million euros overall.

Major haulage unions suspended the protest in Sicily and Calabria. Fedralog halted the blockade in Calabria and food deliveries resumed, though distribution difficulties remained. In Sicily hauliers also ended their blockades. The situation in Calabrian supermarkets returned toward normalcy, though deliveries remained irregular.

However, according to reports, farmers decided to continue protests with pickets at various points in Calabria. Moreover, in some southern areas individuals continued blocking roads, according to the Prime Minister's account. The Interior Ministry launched operations to identify those responsible for illegal road blockades, particularly in Campania.

Business leaders in Campania and Puglia highlighted company difficulties, describing the situation as 'on the brink of collapse', and demanded concrete responses from institutions. Mayors of Bari and Naples called for advancing meetings to prevent further risks of paralysis in their cities.

The Prime Minister stated that the Government does not accept intimidation and qualified the illegal conduct described—such as slashing truck tyres and threatening drivers wanting to work—not as protest but as genuine acts of intimidation.

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