“Bravo to Italy, and keep it up!”
The message from the President of the European Commission is in no way a congratulation to Giorgia Meloni for her election victory on Sunday.
Tinged with threat, it accompanies the green light for a payment of 21 billion euros to Italy as part of the European recovery plan.
The request was introduced by Mario Draghi's government in June.
This payment, the second, is possible because Italy has met a series of 45 milestones covering reforms in
"public employment, public procurement, the teaching profession, tax administration and health care. territorial health",
explains the European Commission.
Officially, it is therefore simply a matter of respecting the timetable agreed with the outgoing Italian government.
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Observers cannot help but find the timing very opportune.
It serves as a warning to the future government in Rome, with whom tensions are expected as Giorgia Meloni says she is in favor of changing the program.
Brussels will continue to pay the 143 billion to which Italy is entitled in the European recovery plan, provided that the country respects its commitments.
“For Italy, this is a unique opportunity to build a more competitive and sustainable economy and a fairer society.
I urge the next Italian government to ensure that this opportunity is seized,”
said Economy Commissioner and former Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.