From 1 October to 31 March 2019, Euro 3 diesels are no longer permitted to circulate across the whole of northern Italy, including Emilia-Romagna. But the rules vary from region to region.
The ban on the circulation of old Euro 3 diesel engines has come into force across the entire Po Valley. From 1 October, the most polluting vehicles — including diesels and petrol-engined cars — are no longer permitted to circulate, even though each region has its own different directives. The inter-regional agreement was signed in Bologna during the G7 Environment meeting on 9 June 2017 and is defined as "the Po Valley Basin Agreement for the implementation of joint measures to improve air quality". It encompasses a whole series of actions taken to reduce atmospheric pollutants that make northern Italy one of the most polluted areas on the planet. The measures will also target domestic wood-burning heating appliances and open-air combustion.
It is estimated that around three million vehicles will be affected, involving approximately 23 million people across the whole of northern Italy. In addition to the ban, the usual car-free Sundays are also planned, during which the restriction on motor vehicles will be virtually total. It should be noted that not all municipalities will be affected, but only those identified by the regions.
In Lombardy, circulation is prohibited for all petrol-engined Euro 0 vehicles and diesels up to Euro 3, from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm on weekdays in Band 1 municipalities (209 municipalities) and in those with a population of over 30,000 belonging to Band 2 (5 municipalities: Varese, Lecco, Vigevano, Abbiategrasso and S. Giuliano Milanese). The Euro 3 ban will not apply on public holidays, including mid-week ones. All exemptions are listed here.
In Piedmont the situation is different. The regional government has adopted the resolution approving the standard ordinance applicable to the municipalities in the metropolitan area of Turin, as well as those with more than 20,000 inhabitants that have recorded exceedances of one or more limit values for PM10 and NOx in the past three years. The circulation ban applies from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm on weekdays (Monday to Friday) until 31 March 2019 for Euro 3 vehicles used for the transport of passengers and all vehicles used for the transport of goods (categories N1, N2, N3). From the following year, the ban will be extended to Euro 4 vehicles as well. Mopeds and motorcycles that are Euro 0 may not circulate at any time of day.
As regards Veneto, the ban runs from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday for all diesels up to Euro 3 and petrol-engined Euro 0 and 1 vehicles. A kind of traffic-light system is in place here, moving from green to red depending on the air quality recorded by Arpav monitoring stations in municipalities with more than 30,000 inhabitants. However, there are quite a few exemptions: those who declare low incomes (below €16,700 in Verona, below €6,000 in Padua), those who have no access to public transport, and those carrying two or more passengers on board will be permitted to drive.
In Emilia-Romagna the ban will affect 30 municipalities, but shift workers, those travelling for medical reasons, parents taking children to school and lower-income households with an ISEE below €14,000 are exempt. It is worth noting that here even Euro 4 vehicles are not permitted to circulate, while vehicles powered by methane, LPG, electricity and hybrids are given the green light, as are those carrying more than 3 passengers regardless of fuel type.
A number of regions have already planned a ban on Euro 4 diesels starting from next year. But to date only the city of Milan has announced a precise plan for the definitive phase-out of diesel-powered vehicles: from next year, Euro 4 vehicles will not be permitted to circulate during the week, while from 2021 the ban will be extended to the entire week. In 2024 the restriction will apply to Euro 5 vehicles, and so on, until the circulation of current Euro 6 vehicles is also banned from 2027. The season has begun, while that of old diesels appears to be drawing to a close.