BRUSSELS. Italy worries the European Commission. The political instability following the government crisis raises questions about Italy’s actual ability to implement the plan for recovery, and to spend the Ricovery fund’s resources as promised. An eventual exit from the scene of Mario Draghi can undermine that ambitious program beyond expectations and requests. Valdis Dombrovskis expresses the concerns in Brussels. The executive vice-president of the Commission cannot fail to answer a question presented by Raffaele Fitto, MEPs of the Brothers of Italy, a party that in the country is pressing to go to the vote.
To tell the truth, the questions were put to the Commission in April, when the crisis still seemed distant. It was a political move resulting from the logic of opposition, but the answer comes now, a politically delicate moment, and contributes to making the atmosphere even more incandescent.
“The Italian government has expressed its intention to spend 40% of the resources in the eight southern regions, although this is not a condition required” by the regulation establishing the Recovery Fund and was not a requirement for obtaining the money from Brussels, he recalls Dombrovskis. It is therefore underlined that Draghi’s Italy has taken on commitments beyond its due, commitments that Draghi had guaranteed, and which is now being looked upon with renewed concern.
Also because in the meantime the situation has deteriorated for reasons independent of the country system. The war in Ukraine, with the surge in energy prices and the general increase in inflation, pose new challenges for everyone, including Italy. But in the tricolor case, Dombrovskis makes no secret of the fact that “the current price increases and the interruption of supply chains can have a direct impact on the realization of some investments”. Translated, Italy was already in danger of not implementing the recovery plan. If you add the government crisis and the risk of early elections, things could get complicated.
An Italian failure is something that Europe cannot afford, much less Italy. For the first time in the history of the Union, the Twenty-seven have been able to produce common debt to finance its recovery, but it has been made clear that such an unprecedented decision can only be replicated if it works. The boot was granted € 191.5 billion in loans (€ 122.6 billion) and guarantees (€ 68.9 billion). He must know how to use them all well, but what is happening in the restless country is troubling Brussels. “Spending power is a cause for concern”, denounced Fitto in presenting his parliamentary question. Now this concern is also shared in Brussels.