He arrives in the Chamber, in view of the European Council starting tomorrow, shortly after 3.30 pm and there is applause for Prime Minister Mario Draghi when he announces the reopening of schools. In fact, this is news that the Prime Minister confirms. As already happened this morning in the Senate, in fact, even in the Chamber the words of the premier on the reopening of schools sound more or less like this: «It is good to think about planning the reopening. If the epidemiological situation allows it, we will begin to reopen the school in primis and at least the primary and kindergarten schools also in the red areas when the current restrictions expire, hopefully immediately after Easter ». Words, in fact, followed by a long applause from the hemicycle.
School, but not only. It is the vaccine issue that is taking center stage. An issue on which the premier is aiming strongly. The vaccine plan, in fact, aims to reach 500,000 doses per day. And from this week “the data on vaccines will be published on the website of the Prime Minister, region by region, age category by age category” explains Draghi to the deputies. The reason is clear: “To ensure maximum transparency”. As already in the Senate, the premier has beaten the regions that do not comply with the provisions of the Ministry of Health, neglecting “their elders in favor of groups that have priority probably on the basis of some of their contractual strength”. His words were interrupted by an applause from the Chamber of Deputies.
For Draghi «the pandemic makes clear the opportunity to invest in the production capacity of vaccines in Europe. We need to build a supply chain that is not vulnerable to external shocks and decisions. And we have already started to establish partnership agreements with international production companies in Italy ». And he explains: «The communications of the Government to the Chambers before the European Council allow the Parliament to be fully involved in the topics of discussion with our partners. This is an important step to give you an account of the positions we intend to take. This makes our democracy more involved than what happens within the European Council “
Economy and work
But Europe is also spoken of for more strictly economic aspects: “A better future for a united Europe passes through concrete action on employment, especially among young people, on equal opportunities, on social rights”. Themes that will form part of «a” Social Summit “to be organized on 7-8 May by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. And it is the theme that we must put at the center of the Conference on the Future of Europe which will start on 9 May. Young people and youth employment: this is at the heart of the future of Europe. For this appointment we urge the active participation of all European citizens and national parliaments ”, he added.
Human rights, Turkey and Libya
The premier then focuses on the issue of human rights in Turkey: «I examined with President Erdogan the importance of avoiding divisive initiatives and the need to respect human rights. As I said, ‘help us to help you’. ” “The Turkish abandonment of the Istanbul Convention – reiterated the Prime Minister – represents a serious step backwards”.
The premier then announced that he will be on a “visit to Libya in the first week of April”. It will therefore be the first international issue: “Italy’s position in Libya is to support the temporary government, guarantee elections by December, respect the ceasefire and there are encouraging elements” in this sense. “Italy defends its national interests and international cooperation in the field of security with its strategic partners in Libya and in the Mediterranean. If there were conflicting interests, Italy should obviously have no doubt in defending its national interests – he added – nor should it have awe towards any partner. And it seems to me that I have always shown in my life – he concluded – extreme independence in defending the fundamental values of Europe and the nation ».