No corrective measures, the government is working on expensive energy

The hypothesis of a corrective measure is not on the government’s table. Qualified sources in the executive, as anticipated by AGI, clarify that help for families and businesses against price increases linked to the conflict in Iran remains Palazzo Chigi’s priority at this stage. But there will not be an adjustment to the budget law.

The government, it is underlined, is committed to carrying forward a proposal within the EU which requests the extension of the safeguard clause for defense funds to also include the energy chapter. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti is moving on this working hypothesis, which he will also continue next week at the G7 ministerial meeting in Paris. At the end of April, during the hearings on the DFP, the owner of the MEF specified: “The new European rules provide for flexibility clauses. When there are exceptional situations, there are two articles made especially for this.”

Tajani opens, the opposition attacks

The debate opened after the deputy prime minister and foreign minister Antonio Tajani, when asked about it, argued: “Now let’s see what to do, I don’t rule out the possibility that there could be a corrective measure”. The opposition insists: “Tajiani’s statements on the hypothesis of a corrective measure, immediately denied by government sources, certify a worrying state of confusion within the executive.” While Nicola Fratoianni of Avs says “no to a corrective measure, the price of which will naturally be paid by citizens and the weakest groups”. For Enrico Borghi of IV “either Tajani speaks nonsense, or they hide the truth from us”.

One of the problems in finding resources remains the weight of public debt. Today Bank of Italy certified that in March the public administration debt increased by 19.5 billion compared to the previous month, amounting to 3,158.8 billion.

Dear energy and Safe funds at the center of the agenda

The government is focused these days on two issues: expensive energy and possible use of the 14.5 billion Safe community funds for defense. The cut in excise duties on fuel expires next week, on May 22nd: the measure has been in force since March 19th, at the last renewal it was modulated to have a greater impact on the price of diesel. But, the government reflects, it may not be possible to extend it for too long given its cost, currently over one billion and only partially mitigated by the extra VAT revenue.

The Meloni line: international commitments and new global context

The line of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, also reiterated during an informal meeting on the sidelines of yesterday’s Council of Ministers, would be the one that has already emerged in recent weeks: respect for the commitments made at international level – i.e. bringing defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 – but also acknowledgment that the international context has changed compared to when it was taken. A line that would also be shared by the owner of the Mef.

Dialogue with Brussels on budget flexibility

On Wednesday, during question time in the Chamber, Giorgetti reiterated: “The government is establishing a close dialogue with the European Commission” on the “possibility of making use of greater budget flexibility” to ensure measures to “protect families and businesses from the consequences of high energy costs, which I have repeatedly defined as the real priority”. Only at the end of this discussion “will it be possible to evaluate whether to activate the national safeguard clause” to increase functional expenses “including those for defence”.

Truck drivers heading for strike

The executive is also thinking about the hauliers’ strike, scheduled from 25 to 29 May, again due to high energy prices. The sector’s acronyms were convened on May 22nd at Palazzo Chigi to try to avoid the stoppage of heavy vehicles at the last minute.