The Italian Council of Ministers has approved a new €5.5bn package to contain the costs of electricity and natural gas. The government has already intervened to reduce the pressure of rising energy prices with €1.2bn (third quarter 2021), €3.5bn (fourth quarter 2021) and €5.5bn (first quarter 2022). The new financing package will introduce a tax credit for gas-intensive companies and will extend measures already in place, such as the elimination of general system charges applied to domestic users and non-domestic users in low voltage and to some users in medium and high or very high voltage, the reduced VAT rate (5%) and reduced general charges for the gas sector, the strengthening of the social bonus for vulnerable families and the tax credit for energy-intensive companies. In addition, the country intends to introduce simplification measures for renewable projects, especially solar PV to be built on public and private roofs and in agricultural and industrial areas. The government also considers raising its domestic gas production to reduce its dependence on gas imports and boosting and optimising its gas storage.