Duties, Meloni: 25 billion in aid for companies

Recovering 25 billion from the revision of European resources to cope with the duty emergency with support measures for the economy: this is the goal that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni indicated to the business associations. Among the folds of the NRP 14 billion "can be reshuffled to support employment and increase the efficiency of productivity," explained the Prime Minister, adding that within the funds for cohesion and from the Energy and Climate Plan "about 11 billion euro can be reprogrammed in favour of companies, workers and sectors that are most affected. The road passes through Europe, for "a strong negotiation with the EU Commission for a transitional regime on state aid and greater flexibility" in the revision of the funds. With a commitment "to identify all the resources, starting with those available that do not have an impact on public finance". "To the productive categories, to the world of Made in Italy and to all the employers' and trade union organisations," Meloni launches an invitation to "a new pact to put up a common front in the new delicate economic situation we are facing. The crisis triggered by duties, she says, can be 'an opportunity to make our economic system more productive and competitive'.

Summoned to Palazzo Chigi by the government on the tariffs emergency, the alarm of businesses is all-encompassing, from "the risk of an economic pandemic" as Confartigianato points out. The impact that is feared, heavy, is not only the direct one on exports to the United States but that of a domino effect, up to the consumption of families that could see a lower growth for 11.9 billion in two years, as Confesercenti calculates. That the government is not underestimating the concerns of industrialists, SMEs, farmers, artisans and traders is evidenced by the convening of the meetings in the Green Room of Palazzo Chigi: in addition to the prime minister, there are the deputies Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini (in video link-up), ministers Giorgetti, Urso, Foti and Lollobrigida, and undersecretaries Mantovano and Fazzolari. Three rounds of discussion: the first one lasting over an hour also included the president of Confindustria with Ice and the Fashion Chamber, then the SME and artisan associations, third round with the agriculture associations.

All call for support, extraordinary measures. The impact of US duties on exports and GDP? It is 'too early' to quantify it, stresses the premier. Businesses are pressing for an easing of the Stability Pact. They are calling for a revision to allow wider spending margins, but also for an extension of the NRP deadlines and a relaxation of the green deal. Minister Adolfo Urso also announces: 'We will also ask the EU for a shock measure to suspend some of the crazy rules of the green deal'. But on the suspension of the pact, Brussels is holding back: 'The question has been raised but the discussion has not yet started,' says a senior EU official: 'I think it is a bit early to start discussing the general escape clause,' which among other things 'allows more flexibility in the fiscal space' but 'does not create fiscal space that is not there'.

Then there is the internal side. Businesses are calling for investment support measures, starting with a reconversion of Transition 5.0, considered a failure due to the difficulty in accessing resources. The cahier de doléance of business associations is a chorus in unison: from the cost of energy to difficulties in accessing credit, from the liquidity crisis risk for SMEs to strengthening economic diplomacy to open up new markets. Everyone, in tune with the government, is calling for 'avoiding a trade war, we need European negotiations', as Confcommercio points out. Negotiating 'with one voice', also call for Confagricoltura, Coldiretti and Cia in defence of agro-food exports.