Reception of refugees and attention to energy prices. The president of the Council of Ministers, Mario Draghi, replying to a question from the League explained that the government is following “the consequences” of the crisis in Ukraine with great attention, “the government cannot stop these events, but we can move quickly and decisively how we have done and how we will continue to do to defend the purchasing power of families and the competitiveness and survival of businesses “. Then from the premier comes a jab against the Renzi government: «The increase in imports after the invasion of Crimea was an incredible underestimation. We are working to reduce dependence on Russian gas quickly, which is not obvious as a task but it needs to be done. We want to meet the goal of 70 gigawat of renewables in 2026 if the authorizations are unlocked, we are engaged in the production of several gigawat of offshore wind thanks to a simplification of the authorizations, there is also the use of biomethane with the objective of 200 thousand tons in the 2023 and an increase of 50 thousand in the following three years. Research is fundamental in every area “.
Energy.
To diversify energy sources “we will increase gas production, with 5 billion cubic meters” and the increase will be obtained “by exploiting the concessions existing between 2022 and 2031. The new volumes will be offered to industries with a reserve of at least one third to small and medium-sized enterprises “. The premier also recalled the work on increasing “stocks for next autumn” and that “we are continuously active at the diplomatic level, and I thank Minister Di Maio for diversifying supplies”. This strategy also includes the “maximization of the existing regasification capacity and the acquisition of new regasifiers”. As regards nuclear power, however, «the technical and economic commitment is concentrated on magnetic confinement fusion, which is currently the only possible way to build commercial reactors capable of supplying electricity in an economic and sustainable way. The European fusion energy strategy is developed by the EUROfusion Consortium, which manages Euratom funds amounting to over 500 million euros for the period between 2021 and 2025. This consortium foresees the entry into operation of the first prototype of a merger in 2025-28 “.
Democracy.
Then, the premier thanked the Italians and «those who spontaneously mobilized to support the Ukrainian population. There is a great generosity, a profound humanity “, observes the premier according to which” the strength of a country is also measured in the ability to defend human dignity. We are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and the application of the directive on temporary protection testifies to the compactness of the EU. The strength of a country and a democracy is measured by the ability to defend the values of human dignity, peaceful coexistence and friendship between peoples “.
The refugees.
The premier then announced that “21095 Ukrainian citizens arrived on 8 March, today there are 23872 mainly from the Italian-Slovenian border, over 90 percent are women and children: yesterday 10,500 women, today 12,000, men were 2,000 yesterday , today 2200, children 8500 yesterday and today 9700. The flow is certainly destined to increase ». Then he explained that for “Ukrainian refugees who want to work, we have foreseen a first measure that allows them on the basis of the request for a residence permit and notwithstanding the quotas of the flow decree to work both autonomously and seasonally”. All refugees will have to get vaccinated or have a tampon every 48 hours. As regards the youngest, “full integration of students has been arranged, also in connection with the community of compatriots integrated in Italy. Welcome, brotherhood and solidarity are demonstrated by the actions undertaken by Italy but much more will be necessary because perhaps the reaction is not days and months, perhaps it is longer ».
The state accounts.
«The government – continued Draghi – pays full attention to the implementation of the NRP and the impact of energy costs. It is clear that some rules must be reread, long before the crisis in Ukraine I said that the budget rules are inadequate, they are rules that do not take into account the strategic priorities of the last 2 years: climate, energy, defense are strategic priorities of the EU and Italy and all the more reason now we need to rethink the general scheme ».