The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini said the government is trying to avoid the vehicle block euro 5 In the most populous areas of the North Regions affected by a serious problem of air pollution, especially during the winter months.
The Euro 5 cars still represent a significant part of the cars circulating in Italy, but are also at least 10 years old. The age of the Italian car park is very high, and this represents a problem, both for its environmental sustainability, and for the Health damage it publishes that atmospheric pollution causes.
Salvini’s statements on the block of cars Euro 5
Salvini attacked the project of four Italian local administrations, three of which are center -right, to reduce the use of Euro 5 vehicles: “As a transport minister I do not believe that sustainability passes through the condemnation of those who use the car, the bike or the van to go to work. These are cracksthey are follies that benefit other markets “.
The Minister of Transport then continued: “Millions of Italians cannot afford the new electric or hybrid cars of the latest model because the economic situation is still complex”. However, electric or hybrid cars are not the only alternatives to vehicles Euro 5. On the contrary, these models are only a marginal part of the Italian car park.
To replace a euro 5 diesel car, you can buy a car petrol or diesel Euro 6which today is estimated to represent 36% of the total of those in circulation, about 14.7 million. These models can also be nine years old, and therefore are not only new, as suggested by the minister with this comment.
The other alternative are cars a Petrol Euro 5which are the same age as the diesel ones, up to 16 years of age, and would not undergo the consequences of the blockade.
What you need to know about the block of Euro 5 cars
Starting from October 1, 2025 in Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont and Venetothe circulation of Euro 5 diesel vehicles will be prohibited in the municipalities above 30 thousand inhabitants, in autumn and winter in the daytime. The details change slightly for each region, depending on the resolutions of the individual local administrations:
- Emilia-Romagna, prohibition in force from 1 October to 31 March, with the possibility for the smallest municipalities to adhere voluntarily;
- Lombardy, active ban for the whole year, from 7:30 to 19:30, from Monday to Friday, with exception for holidays;
- Piedmont, a prohibition valid from 1 October 2025 to 15 April 2026, then from 15 September to 15 April of each year;
- Veneto, active ban but details still to be defined.
This prohibition was sanctioned by law decree 121 of 2023, issued by the Giorgia Meloni government, which implements two sentences of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The air quality of these regions is among the worst in Italy, and this provision serves to improve it in the most critical periods of the year.
The damage of air pollution in northern Italy
The Po Valley is one of the most polluted areas in Europe. Her geography closes it in a basin that traps the air, especially in winter, and the emissions of cities and businesses of the most industrialized and urbanized area of Italy remain for months in the same point.
This highlights the health of 16 million people. In only 2021, according to the data released by the European Agency for the Environment, 11,282 people died prematurely from exposure to one of the air pollutants of northern Italy, the nitrogen dioxide.
The decision to limit the use of Euro 5 cars does not concern so much climate change, but the public health. Their impact on greenhouse gas emissions is marginal and regulations in this area are others. The ban aims to defend people who live in the Po Valley from the damage to the respiratory system caused by fine dust.
