The European Commission has now sent its positive preliminary assessment to the Economic and Financial Committee of the EU Council, asking for its opinion. The opinion of the Committee must be issued within four weeks. The adoption of the final Commission decision will follow
Official go-ahead from the European Commission to the third installment of Italy’s 18.5 billion euro Pnrr. The EU executive also approved the changes proposed by Rome to the objectives of the fourth tranche. “The 54 objectives and milestones satisfactorily achieved” by Italy “in the context of the third payment request demonstrate significant progress in the implementation of Italy’s recovery and resilience plan”, underlines the EU executive.
The process
The European Commission has now sent its positive preliminary assessment to the Economic and Financial Committee of the EU Council. The opinion of the Committee must be issued within four weeks. This will be followed by the adoption of the Commission’s final decision on the release of the €18.5 billion payment, which can then take place. This was announced by the EU executive itself.
Meloni: “Very satisfied, great result for Italy”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “very satisfied with today’s decision of the European Commission, which approved the payment of the third installment of the PNRR and approved the changes proposed by the Government on the fourth installment. A great result – she underlined – which will allow the Italy to receive the 35 billion euros planned for 2023 and which is the result of the intense work carried out in recent months and the strong synergy of the Government with the European Commission”.
Fitto: “Continuing confrontation with the EU”
“The positive evaluation on the third payment request and the simultaneous proposal relating to the modifications of some measures of the fourth installment, once approved by the Member States, will allow Italy to receive within this year the total of 35 billion euros envisaged by the Pnrr The decisions taken today are the result of a long constructive dialogue between the Italian government and the Commission, and the result of an outstanding work done by our offices and all administrations. We will continue the close cooperation with the Commission on the modifications of the remaining part of the Plan, including the REPowerEU”. So the minister for European affairs, cohesion policies and the Pnrr, Raffaele Fitto, commenting on the go-ahead for the installment of the Pnrr.
CGIL: “Worrying decisions, goals at risk”
“The government’s decisions regarding the Pnrr are worrying to say the least. Projects for 16 billion are canceled which concern flood risk, hydrogeological instability, decarbonisation. The same happens for territorial health and municipal projects. There is a risk of compromising the strategic objectives of the Plan on the environment, ecological conversion, welfare, reduction of inequalities and territorial gaps”. This was stated by the confederal secretary of the CGIL, Christian Ferrari. “The method – he adds – is worse than the merits. We are faced with unilateral choices and the de facto cancellation of confrontation with the social partners”.
Gentiloni: “Two important steps forward for Rome on the Pnrr”
“Today we take two important steps forward with the implementation of Italy’s recovery and resilience plan”, highlighted the European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, commenting on the green light from the European Commission to the third installment of the Pnrr. “Once the necessary procedures are completed, Italy will receive 18.5 billion euros to continue supporting the country’s economic development in these difficult times. In the meantime, our positive assessment of the targeted modifications to the commitments for the fourth installment will open the way for Italy to present this request after the summer break”, underlined Gentiloni.
The words of the EU executive
The objectives of the third installment of the Pnrr, Brussels recalls, “cover wide-ranging transformative reforms in the sectors of competition law, the judicial system, public and tax administration, as well as education, the labor market and the health system. The payment request also covers investments to promote the digital and green transitions and to improve support for research, innovation and education.” The EU executive also “positively” assessed Rome’s request for “targeted changes” in the context of the fourth payment request. “Following an assessment of the changes proposed by Italy, the Commission concluded that the Italian plan still complies with the criteria set out in the Recovery regulation”, highlights the EU executive, underlining that it has “found that the overall ambition of the plan is not affected by the changes, given their targeted nature”.
Source-tg24.sky.it