The Sicilian regional executive is implementing a 25 million euro economic maneuver to stem the serious crisis that is affecting the main production sectors of the island. The measure, defined as the “Expensive Fuel Package”, aims to counteract the surge in energy and raw material costs, aggravated by international war conflicts, which has brought the local business fabric to its knees.
The beneficiary sectors
Initially designed for the goods transport sector, the provision was extended to other pillars of the Sicilian economy:
Road haulage: the sector most affected by the increase in fuel prices.
Agriculture: strategic sector for the island, tested by the increase in production costs.
Fisheries: fundamental sector for employment, also included in the support measures.
«The regional government is committed to giving a concrete and timely response to Sicilian companies which are facing an extremely complex phase», declared the president of the Region, Renato Schifani.
Dialogue with businesses and the national node
In the afternoon, the councilors Alessandro Dagnino (Economy) and Alessandro Aricò (Infrastructures) met with the representatives of the hauliers to discuss the critical issues of the sector. Despite the opening of the Region, tension remains high. Salvatore Bella, secretary of the Sicilian Transport Committee, while appreciating the sensitivity shown by governor Schifani and the president of Ars Galvagno, confirmed the continuation of the protests: the stoppage of activities in the island’s ports remains total and will continue indefinitely in the absence of definitive answers.
The hauliers ask for an urgent meeting with Minister Salvini, believing that the definitive resolution of the structural problems lies with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
On the ETS fund front, Schifani specified that, since it is European legislation, the Region can only act through “moral suasion” towards the national government. The objective of the regional amendment remains to safeguard the competitiveness of Sicilian companies and guarantee production continuity in a moment of extreme economic fragility.