Back in Emilia Romagna, together, “to bring concrete answers” eight months after the floods that devastated the region last May. Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen met in Forlì to present the new 1.2 billion measure “freed” by the revision of the Italian Pnrr and intended for the affected areas. Resources which, the Prime Minister underlined after a bilateral meeting lasting almost an hour with the President of the European Commission in the town hall, «in addition to guaranteeing the safety of the areas exposed to hydrogeological risk, will also allow environmental recovery actions to be carried out , mitigation of the effects of climate change, ensuring a higher level of control and management of flood risk.” “With these resources – he added – we carry out reconstruction, but also something equally important, more important if we want, which is prevention of any further events of this nature”. Meloni then thanked von der Leyen, who returned to Emilia Romagna «with very important results that we have built together in recent months. When we were here last time, the President of the Commission brought European solidarity, but also her commitment not to leave these lands alone, and the fact that she is here again today when we can present the results of that commitment is in my opinion a symbol of great seriousness and concreteness.” The Prime Minister then placed the emphasis on the revision of the Pnrr, “something that was said not to be possible, but which instead was not only possible but necessary taking into account the changed context in which we find ourselves operating”. The reconstruction and prevention of flooded areas, included among the objectives of the Pnrr, will bring with it a “very important” consequence, highlighted Meloni, referring to the timetable which “envisages the identification of all specific interventions by the third quarter of 2024 , the awarding of all contracts by the second quarter of 2025, and the completion of 90% of the works by the end of 2026. This means having to work, and work quickly.” During the bilateral meeting, Meloni and von der Leyen also addressed the issues that will be on the agenda of the next European Council on 1 February, when the review of the multiannual budget, support for Ukraine and the Migration resources.
And precisely speaking about this last dossier, Meloni thanked the president of the EU Commission because “she understood much earlier than many others” the Italian approach on the topic which aims to “work on the external dimension, rather than thinking of solving the problem when arrives in Europe.” The Prime Minister also announced that on Sunday 28 January von der Leyen will also be in Rome to participate in the Italy-Africa conference which will be held the following day in the Senate Chamber and in which the Mattei Plan will be presented. Through a post on G7. During the joint declarations, however, he confessed that «it is very moving for me to return to Emilia Romagna because I vividly remember last year’s visit and I will never forget the devastation that these horrible floods caused. I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that we will stay by your side for as long as it takes. We want to help you get on your feet. ‘Tim Botà, Europe remains with you.” Before moving to Forlì, in the morning Meloni went to Bologna (where she was welcomed by a group of students and protesters who displayed some banners with the words ‘Meloni enough catwalks and ‘You are not welcome’) for the ceremony in which the agreement for development and cohesion between the government and Emilia Romagna was signed with governor Stefano Bonaccini. Agreement which, the Prime Minister explained, “mobilizes” 687 million euros which will be used to finance 92 projects considered strategic for the Region. “Our objective – concluded the Prime Minister – is to transform Italy from a nation that has often been considered at the rear in the use of European funds to a nation that can become a model in the use of these funds”.