Euro 5 diesel ban: Emilia-Romagna is the only region not to ask for its revocation in the Po Valley

Bologna, June 11, 2025 – Three out of four regions have withdrawn and so Emilia-Romagna remains alone in not asking for the lifting of the ban on Euro 5 diesels from October 1. The opening to avoid yet another ban comes from Rome and has been led for days by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and the League.

The ban on circulation for Euro 5 diesels would put one million cars out of action in Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, that is, the Po Valley basin which, as is known, is among the most polluted areas in Europe (and now dust from fires from Canada is also being added and air quality is worsening). And so the decree approved by the Council of Ministers committed the Regions of the Po Valley basin – Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Veneto – to update their air quality plans and established that in municipalities with more than 30,000 inhabitants the ban on Euro 5 diesels would become mandatory from October 1, 2025. But on May 17, Salvini's party said it was "committed, in the Regions and in government, to avoiding the ban" and sunk in: "As Minister of Transport, I do not believe that sustainability comes through condemning those who use cars, motorbikes or vans to go to work".

"Today the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini reiterated his intention to include an amendment in the law converting the infrastructure decree to avoid the blocking of Euro 5 diesel vehicles - write in a joint note the presidents of the Piedmont Regions, Alberto Cirio, Lombardy , Attilio Fontana, and Veneto , Luca Zaia - currently scheduled for October 1 in Emilia Romagna, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto, also opening up the possibility of identifying alternative measures that guarantee similar effects on air quality without blocking cars, penalizing families and businesses. It is appreciable that the Government has come up with a proposal that, proceeding in the direction that we as regional presidents have long shared and supported , intends to take charge of a situation that would impact the lives of millions of citizens", is the position of the three center-right governors. The joint note, however, lacks the signature of Michele de Pascale .

Stop Euro 5 diesels, the graph

According to data from Anfia (the Automotive Industry Supply Chain Association), Euro 5 diesel cars in circulation in Italy in 2023 are over 3.7 million, out of a circulating car fleet of over 40.9 million vehicles. Euro 5 cars are those registered starting from 1 January 2011.