BOLOGNA. «I see a stable government, which gives clear messages, which of course does not mean that the task of this government that has given itself with this Plan with the use of European funds is simple. We have a program to maintain that requires reforms, investments, deadly times ». Thus the European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, in his speech at the National Unity Day in Bologna. “The government seems strong and stable to me,” he added.
Recovery, in December the examination of the 51 Italy objectives to receive 25 billion
The former premier also spoke about the resources of the Next Generation Eu to achieve the investment and reform objectives established in the plans agreed with Brussels. “We are at the beginning of a story, we are not at the end of the story. The money that has arrived so far is money that the EU Commission has disbursed when the plans are approved. So far we have approved 16 plans, maybe on Monday we will approve another 2 and there will be 18. The challenge is that these plans, we are talking about a few tens of thousands of pages, are divided into hundreds of objectives to be achieved with dates in which these objectives will be achieved. Italy will probably ask for the next 25 billion in December. I am optimistic because I see that Italy has a very determined Prime Minister and a government aware of this priority, but this priority in Brussels is seen as a huge challenge and it is a lot of stuff in quantitative terms ».
There are many topics on the table, from domestic to international politics. Gentiloni talks about Afghanistan, about the Green Pass and the vaccination obligation, about citizenship income.
Afghanistan, a disastrous end but no simplifications
“There has been a disastrous end to this story, even if the judgment should not be extended in a simplistic way to the entire operation in Afghanistan” warned the former premier. “If possible, I do not want the fierce criticism of the disastrous epilogue of this affair to become an abjuration of the initial reasons that led us to support the operation, I am not ashamed to have supported the idea of an international mission against terrorism after September 11th ».
Was it necessary to stay? “The hope of bringing women’s rights, however, was a strong motivation to stay. I don’t like using hindsight too much. Perhaps we have supported the mission for too long, it is easy to say now. But it didn’t have to end the way it did, it was a disaster and the disaster had to be avoided. It will be a watershed ».
Vaccines, no to political citizenship to No Vax
“It is very important not to give the No Vax the right of political citizenship,” said Gentiolini, who recalled how in the US the vaccination campaign has “effectively stopped” since “political dignity” has been given to the No Vax. “People must be involved, encouraged, encouraged and respected, but I think it is very important that in Italy so far this story of the No Vax is not having political citizenship because it endangers our health,” he insisted.
Green Pass, Draghi does well to go towards the extension
«The vast majority of European citizens use the Green Pass and are happy to use it. And Draghi is right to go in the direction of extension ».
Income, deadly remove anti-poverty measures
“Measures to combat poverty exist in the vast majority of countries and are absolutely not only legitimate but necessary. Then these measures must be calibrated with respect to the money available “.
«My government – Gentiloni claims – introduced a measure that was called at the time inclusion income which was rightly said was underfunded, even if in my opinion it was well designed after all. Certainly to say that a large country like Italy can do without poverty support measures would be a deadly mistake. The measures can be corrected, changed and this is up to the debate between the parties and the choices of the government, certainly not the European Commission ”, concluded the former premier.