Italy wants to use the money from the European Corona Recovery Fund for purposes other than those initially envisaged. However, the European Commission has said from the outset that once the plans are submitted, they cannot be changed. “Writing on the wall,” says Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries.
A proposal from the Italian government to spend recovery fund money differently is expected to be presented to the Italian parliament today. It is not known exactly what these plans entail. But it is clear that the European Commission will not be happy about it. ‘Italy receives by far the majority of funds from this fund. It’s not good that they have other plans now,’ says De Vries.
The fund, officially Next Generation EU, contains 800 billion euros. Italy will receive a quarter of this amount for plans officially approved by the European Commission.
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Margin
Italy and the commission will negotiate some aspects of the plans in the coming months. For example, Rome wants more expensive raw materials to be taken into account for construction and infrastructure projects. ‘It is feared that this is the gate to the dam. If other countries also want to adjust their plans, the fund could eventually exceed its target,’ thinks De Vries. In April it should be clear what margin Italy will get.
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“Political Game”
According to De Vries, it is above all clear that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to take control. Here he will have to enter into discussions with his predecessor Mario Draghi. Draghi is in charge of implementing the plans with the money from the fund on behalf of the European Commission. Meloni now claims that Draghi has abandoned her. So there is also an internal political game at play here.’
Source: BNR
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