New €3 tax on small packages & rail closures
Starting July 1st, shoppers will face a new tax on small international packages, while travelers should prepare for significant summer disruptions on major train routes. High-speed rail lines will see heavy maintenance, though highway drivers may find some relief with suspended roadworks.
You will have to pay a new €3 duty on individual items imported from outside the European Union starting July 1st. The European Commission has clarified that this fee applies to each single article based on its specific tariff category, rather than the total number of items in a shipment. This change targets the high volume of low-value goods often ordered from international online marketplaces.
If you are planning to travel by train this summer, expect delays and route changes due to a peak in maintenance work on the national rail network. Major disruptions are scheduled for the high-speed line between Milan and Bologna, as well as the central Florence rail hub. To help manage the summer rush, authorities have announced that construction work on national highways will be suspended to keep roads clear for car travelers.
For more details on these changes and further updates, visit the News section in the app. Read more about the record-breaking Pharaohs exhibition in Rome and the latest shifts in centrist political alliances.