Emilia-Romagna suspends Euro 5 diesel vehicle ban

The Emilia-Romagna regional government has suspended the structural ban on Euro 5 diesel vehicles scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026. The decision, made in coordination with other regions in the Po Valley, aims to avoid significant economic and social impacts on approximately 90,000 vehicles across nine major cities, including Bologna, Parma, and Modena.

To compensate for the suspension and meet air quality goals, the region is implementing alternative measures. These include postponing the activation of civil heating systems in lowland areas until November 1 and extending emergency traffic restriction hours from 8:00 to 19:00 during smog alerts. Additionally, there will be stricter limits on biomass heating systems, specifically targeting those with an emission class lower than 5 stars.

The government has also announced a 10-million-euro project to incentivize the replacement of polluting heating systems with heat pumps and photovoltaic technology. While the suspension has been welcomed by some political groups as a relief for families and businesses, labor unions and opposition leaders have expressed concerns regarding the adequacy of the compensation and the potential burden of new heating restrictions.