Melons: "Italy is stronger than before. Encouraging data from the economy"

“The Italian economy is holding up well. And the data for the first two quarters of 2026 are encouraging, with growth of 1% compared to April-June 2025 and a progression achieved for 2026 of 0.8%. These are data above forecasts and in line with those of the Eurozone”. The Prime Minister says so Giorgia Meloni in a wide-ranging interview with the newspaper Milano Finanza.

“Another comforting factor – continues the prime minister – is that of the increase in GDP per capita, which reflects the actual wealth of citizens” and which – she underlines – has grown, compared to 2022, by almost 4,500 euros”. Meloni reiterates that “the stability that this government has allowed Italy to face with greater confidence what is the most difficult economic situation in recent decades”.

This is confirmed by the trend of spread: “When we took office – recalls the Prime Minister – government bonds were one step away from being downgraded to ‘junk’ level and the spread was at 240 points, three times higher than current values. Today the picture is very different”.

Good morning. A short excerpt from my interview today with Milano Finanza

• The markets recognize Italy’s government stability which translates into financial stability. Why hasn’t this situation translated into economic growth?

✍ The stability that this… pic.twitter.com/vPLa1nVO2A

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) August 14, 2026

Italy’s position on Schengen and migrants

“Already today the vast majority of European nations share the position that Italy has expressed in recent days. That is, that Europe’s priority is to protect the external borders from uncontrolled immigration, exclude any risk of security and terrorism, defend the freedom of movement which is the basis of the system Schengen“. Meloni reiterates this in the interview.

“The crisis that broke out in Ceuta, and the possible new wave predicted by the Spanish authorities themselves for 15 August, require us to pay the utmost attention and the need to continue to adopt all the necessary measures”. After having demonstrated to Europe that on this issue “the approach can change”, the Italian government – concludes Meloni – will continue to work so that the results achieved so far can be consolidated and more and better can be done. By following, for example, the path opened by the Repatriation Regulation on hubs in third countries, as well as on other innovative solutions outside Europe”.

Meloni on Unicredit and banking risk

“I hope that Unicredit can continue to have solid Italian roots and that a collaborative dialogue can be established between the credit institution and the German authorities”. So instead Meloni regarding the Unicredit-Commerzbank operation, the public exchange offer launched by the Italian bank on the German institution which animated the political and financial debate between Rome and Berlin for months.

In the interview there is also space for MPS. “Today, the oldest bank in Italy and the world, strongly rooted in the territory, has returned to health and has become the prized piece on which attention is focused. I hope that from the market dynamics
may an even more solid and competitive system emerge, capable of producing benefits for families and businesses. And that MPS does not end up dismembered, losing its name and identity.”

Italy’s exit from the infringement procedure

Meloni then underlined the importance of achieving one of the objectives that the government has set itself. “When this government took office, the deficit/GDP ratio was 8.1%. Today that ratio has fallen to 3.1%, therefore five points less. It is a result that many thought was impossible, but which we achieved in less than four years, exceeding even our most optimistic forecasts. And we succeeded without cutting, but rather by increasing, fundamental expenses. Such as those for healthcare, welfare and public contracts. Getting out of the infringement procedure is an objective within our reach“. “It goes without saying that – reiterates the Prime Minister – we could have already achieved it, if we hadn’t had to deal with the weight of the Superbonus”.

Energy resources

“We will try to make the best use of the additional resources now available on the energy front – we are talking about 14 billion euros more in the next two years – to mitigate the impact of the increase in prices on vulnerable families and businesses, but more generally on all Italians”, assures Meloni. When asked how the government intends to use the budget flexibility granted by Brussels, “the European Commission – he underlines – has already defined the areas of eligible expenditure and, within this framework, the government will identify those it deems most useful and effective, to lower the costs borne by citizens, companies but also the public administration”.