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Italy approves decree to revamp its EU-funded recovery strategy

Italy's federal government on Monday approved a decree to ensure the timely enforcement of its EU-funded recovery strategy, which consists of 6.3 billion euros ($ 6.83 billion) in tax breaks for companies committed to energy conserving.

The scheme comes from a deal the government clinched with the European Union to revise and revamp a general investment program now worth 194.4 billion euros through 2026.

Italy likewise intends to address the problems that have actually led it to fall behind schedule in investing the cash it has currently received.

Rome invested 45.65 billion euros in between 2021 and 2023 of EU funds paid out to support the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, far below an initial target of 86 billion over the same period, which had actually already been revised downwards numerous times and then set to 61.4 billion in late 2022.

Among a raft of measures, the decree extends the powers of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office to designate special commissioners when one or more targets are at danger, consisting of provisions to recuperate cash from non-compliant bodies.

The changes will increase the overall responsibility of those who are contacted us to spend the EU funds, European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto stated after a cabinet approval of the decree.

Some 3.15 billion euros both this year and next will go to help companies buying innovation jobs to minimize their energy expenses by at least 3%, a draft seen showed.

An additional 150 million euros will promote startups investing in expert system, cybersecurity and 5G facilities, under a plan anchored by state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.

Successive governments in Rome have actually presented the EU money as the key to opening Italy's development capacity and modernising its slow economy, yet a commission report published last week forecasted a smaller impact than Italy's own quotes.

According to Brussels' mid-term assessment of the strategy, under a best-case situation Italian gdp in 2026 will be just over 2.5 portion points higher than it would have been without the EU funds.

Italy's most current official estimates had actually booked a. cumulative GDP increase of 3.4 points by 2026.

(source: Reuters)