The decree law that further extended the national state of emergency to March 31, 2022 (Legislative Decree 221/2021) is preparing to obtain the definitive go-ahead from the Chamber (it will expire on February 22). After the Government, with the Minister for Relations with Parliament Federico D’Incà, raised the question of trust in the provision in the courtroom, the deputies voted in favor (yes were 452, votes against 53). The final vote of the provision is scheduled for the late morning of Thursday 17 February.
In the passage in the Senate on Thursday 10 February, the decree “embarked” three amendments that revealed distances within the majority. The executive expressed the opposite opinion in that circumstance. Then the go-ahead from the Senate: 139 votes in favor, 16 against and 2 abstentions.
The three amendments approved by the Senate, with the Government against
The first two – amendments 2.1500 / 25, by sen. Augussori (L-SP) and others, and 2.1500 / 26 of the sen. Lorefice (M5S) – have canceled with a sponge the obligation of a reinforced Green pass (generated exclusively by vaccination against Covid-19 or from healing) in transfers to and from the islands (Sicily, Sardinia and smaller islands). To access the means of transport that connect Sicily, Sardinia and the smaller islands to the rest of the Italian territory, just the basic green pass (which certifies that vaccination has taken place; that healing has taken place; execution of rapid or molecular antigen tests). The solution was adopted in order to remove a rule that would have limited the freedom of movement for those residing on the islands. There second proposed modification – amendment 2.1500 / 20, of sen. Briziarelli (L-SP) and others – who registered the green light of the senators allows, in the white zone, the holding of popular festivals and outdoor cultural events, also in an itinerant and dynamic way, recognized of considerable cultural interest ( based on the provisions of Legislative Decree 42 of 2004, or the Code of cultural heritage and landscape). Both amendments passed despite the contrary opinion of the rapporteur and the Government. And in both cases there are two changes to article 2. Now, in the final passage in the Chamber of the Chamber, the Government is about to put its trust in the text.
The derogation from the use of public transport
Let’s start with the first modification. During the examination in the Senate, an exemption was introduced to the general regime that prescribes the possession of the reinforced green certification for taking regional and local public transport means. In particular, it concerns the use of air, sea and land vehicles for travel to and from the islands with the rest of the Italian territory, for which the ordinary green certification (the so-called basic green pass) remains valid. It should also be remembered that Decree Law 5 of 2022 introduced a further derogation with reference to the use of means of transport for travel to and from the lake and lagoon islands and for those dedicated to school transport, for which it is sufficient – even in this case – the basic green pass.
According to the 2004 Code, popular festivals are not part of cultural heritage
As regards the second modification, that is the possibility of carrying out popular festivals and outdoor cultural events in the white area, the organizers produce to the competent authority to authorize the event the documentation certifying the measures taken to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus infection. . “The notable cultural interest”, according to the Code, refers to “cultural heritage”, the notion of which – observes the Parliamentary Studies Service in a dossier syul provision – popular festivals and cultural events are not included.