On the sidelines of the 13th Med9 summit in Split, Croatia, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tackled the critical issues of the energy crunch, EU budget flexibility, and soaring inflation. Meloni explained that the Italian government is closely monitoring fuel price trends and currently holds roughly €160 million generated through a "mobile excise" mechanism. Under this policy, when fuel prices rise, the extra VAT collected is set aside to subsequently cut excise taxes, softening the blow of high fill-up costs for everyday citizens.

The administration is currently weighing whether to deploy these funds immediately or save them as a strategic buffer once existing containment measures expire. Promptly responding to the debate, energy giant Eni confirmed a responsible commercial policy, capping prices at €2.25 per liter to buffer against abnormal market spikes. Meanwhile, on the European front, Meloni confirmed constructive dialogue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to secure greater budgetary flexibility, noting that current inflation vastly outpaces original EU forecasts and drives up unexpected fixed costs for national budgets.