The main trade associations are launching an "urgent" appeal to the Sardinia Region to intervene "to adopt a solution to the unstoppable increase in freight transport costs incurred by businesses."
The appeal is signed by Confindustria, Confapi, Coldiretti, Confartigianato, CNA, Confesercenti, Confcommercio, Legacoop, Associazione Quarries e Miniere, and Confcooperative , "representing the entire Sardinian production system - from industry to craftsmanship and from agriculture to commerce."
"In addition to the increased costs associated with the ETS ," the joint statement emphasizes, "since the end of February, due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, there has also been a 25% increase in the price of diesel fuel for road transport. This trend has exacerbated the already existing disparity that structurally affects the regional production system due to its insularity."
Furthermore, the associations point out, " all goods entering and leaving Sardinia are now experiencing an increase in transport costs exceeding 40% , largely attributable to the ETS. This increase, further amplified by rising fuel costs, is impacting hauliers and clients, who, with a sense of responsibility, are doing everything possible to avoid passing the increases entirely on to end consumers."
"The real risk," they denounce, "is an irreversible loss of competitiveness for Sardinian businesses in all sectors." The associations also offer concrete examples: "The Olbia–Livorno and Porto Torres–Genoa routes alone have already seen an annual increase of more than €50 million in 2025 , which risks reaching €70 million this year, due to the increased cost of the ETS. These figures refer to just two routes, which represent barely half of the total traffic. It is now well established that the additional costs incurred by Sardinia annually for the ETS alone exceed €150 million. This is a situation of absolute disparity compared to any other European region."
So the proposals , namely:
· adopt an extraordinary and temporary regional compensatory instrument capable of mitigating the impact of higher transportation costs;
· urge the national government to provide adequate compensation for the transport of goods and for businesses operating on island areas;
· take action at European level to promote an urgent revision of the ETS regulation, ensuring it takes into account Sardinia's specific characteristics and structural disadvantages.
In particular, the need to establish a regional compensation fund for increased maritime transport costs was reiterated. This fund could ensure, at least for the two-year period 2026-2027, coverage of up to 75% of the documented extra costs.
"While awaiting the European Commission's adoption of the new strategy for the islands, a regulatory measure that could exclude Sardinia from the ETS, business representative organizations believe it is essential that the Sardinia Region, in coordination with the national government, intervene immediately by adopting adequate economic and regulatory instruments to offset the ongoing distortive effects before the already limited competitiveness of businesses operating on the island is completely compromised."
(Unioneonline/lf)