Truck drivers, government puts 1 billion on the table. Blockade lifted in Sicily.

The Italian government has put 1 billion euros on the table to address the crisis in the road haulage sector, marked by truck drivers' protests against high fuel prices. The Sicily Transporters Committee has called off the work stoppage, while in Calabria the protest continues. The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, is ready to unlock the resources and has called a meeting for Tuesday.

Undersecretary Edoardo Rixi announced that with a new decree, additional resources will also be made available for the months of September and October. Meanwhile, the president of Coldiretti, Ettore Prandini, has raised the alarm about the consequences of the blockade for agriculture, particularly for the fruit and vegetable and dairy sectors, which are already struggling.

The truck drivers' protest erupted due to the sharp increase in fuel prices, which has made operating costs unsustainable for many companies in the sector. Diesel, the main fuel for trucks, recently approached 2.3 euros per liter on highways, pushing an industry already characterized by narrow margins and strong competition into crisis.

The road haulage sector is crucial for the Italian economy, being responsible for transporting the majority of goods in the country. A prolonged blockade risks paralyzing supply chains, with immediate effects on the distribution of essential goods and production activities, as highlighted by Coldiretti's warning regarding perishable agricultural products. The government's response, allocating 1 billion euros, aims to stem the emergency, but the situation remains tense pending developments from the discussion table convened by Salvini.