ROMA – The Council of Ministers gives the green light – with unanimous vote – to the new annual Law on Competition. The measure, which aims to open markets and liberalize key sectors of the economy, has had a difficult gestation. And even this morning the text would have lost some pieces, torn apart, eliminated.
For example, the part on incinerators would have been skipped. The law, even yesterday, provided that a government commissioner would take the field if the competent authorities did not complete the authorization process. In particular, the commissioner intervened to grant the “integrated environmental authorization” and complete the “single procedure”. All of this seems to have been eliminated.
The white cars
The government keeps the point on taxi drivers, but faces the first protests. The Law on Competition aims to adapt the sector to the mobility needs of customers and to the technological platforms (apps) that allow an “interconnection” between passenger and driver. With a legislative decree, the government “will promote competition, including in the granting of licenses, to stimulate higher quality standards”. At the same time, the sanctions for those who illegally exercise this activity will be tightened.
“We are ready to mobilize”, announce Ugl taxi, Federtaxi Cisal, Tam, Satam, Claai, Unimpresa, Usb taxi, Or.SA taxi, Ati taxi, Fast Confsal and Associazione Tutela Legale taxi. “The legislation governing the sector has already been thoroughly revised and adapted to the times in 2019, and has abundantly passed the legitimacy test of the Constitutional Court, then chaired by Minister Marta Cartabia. To date, it is only necessary to conclude the reform process with the ‘approval of the implementing decrees and a Dpcm for the regulation of apps, already in the legislative availability of the Prime Minister’s office “.
The trade unions consider serious “the possibility that the institutions could yield to the pressure exerted by particular interest groups and the hungry aims of large multinationals that manage technological intermediation platforms. By doing so, they would abandon the workers in the sector to blackmail and exploitation, effectively transforming them. from drivers into riders. All this will see our firm and tough opposition and our mobilization “.
Emilio Boccalini, president of Taxiblu, the Milanese radio taxi company, says: “We have learned that two categories that are present in the European Bolkestein law have been removed from the decree Competition, while we who were expressly outside Bolkestein have been included “. According to the president, this choice ignores” Article 117 of the Constitution which delegates to the regions the competence over non-scheduled public transport “.
“So many governments stopped”
Prime Minister Mario Draghi intervened at the beginning of the Council of Ministers: “In the recent past, Italian governments have taken two avenues on the competition front. Some have tried to pass very ambitious measures without seeking political consensus. The result is state that in large part these measures have not been implemented, also due to the opposition of many interest groups. Other governments have instead ignored the issue. The law that we are about to pass should have an annual nature. Yet, from 2009 to today , was approved only once, in 2017 “.
“This government is taking a third road, which we believe can be more effective. We are launching a transparency operation, and we are mapping all existing concessions, such as those relating to beaches, mineral and thermal waters, frequencies. This is a measure. similar to what we are preparing to do with the land registry. Citizens will thus be able to verify how much each concessionaire pays to carry out his activity. We expect this exercise to highlight the fragmentation of competences between central and territorial administrations and the low profitability for the government of most of the concessions “.
“A long way”
“Today’s provision also contains many useful measures, in a wide range of sectors. We fulfill all the obligations we had assumed with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. We approve a delegation for the reorganization of local public services, and one for the reorganization of non-scheduled urban mobility services. We have also changed some rules on waste management. In terms of health, we have changed the accreditation and agreement criteria for private facilities, to enhance the quality of the services offered. We have changed the methods of selecting medical management, to base it on certain criteria and limit discretion “.
“However, the protection of competition does not stop with this bill. It is an objective that crosses the entire economic policy of the Government. Examples are the law on qualifying degrees, envisaged by the previous executive, and the recent opening of medium and long distance for buses “.
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