Gas stations risk fines of up 2,000 euros in price-transparency decree

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 6 - Premier Giorgia Meloni's government has amended its decree seeking to improve the transparency of fuel prices in Italy, cutting the fines for gas stations that fail to comply.
    The decree makes it obligatory for gas stations to display the average fuel prices, alongside their own prices for petrol and diesel, in a bid to halt speculative hikes.
    The measure has angered gas-station operators, who say the blame is unfairly being pinned on them for fuel-price rises, and they staged a one-day strike last month to protest.
    Fuel prices have risen significantly in Italy since the government ended a reduction in duties at the turn of the year.
    The government agreed to reduce the fines for non compliance in a bid to find some middle ground with the gas-station operators.
    The amendment sees the fines go from 200 to 2,000 euros depending on the gas-stations' turnover, compared to an original range of between 500 and 6,000 euros.
    However, the possible fines are still above the range of 200 to 800 euros agreed in talks at the business ministry. (ANSA).