Former Ilva, the mayor of Taranto: 'I will not sign the programme agreement'. The ministry: astonished

The mayor of Taranto Piero Bitetti, following the indications of the majority group leaders, has announced 'his opposition to the signing of the programme agreement proposed by the government for the former Ilva plant in Taranto'. The majority group leaders 'consider it superfluous,' they said in a note, 'to convene the municipal council in the coming days, as the agreement as formulated is flawed and lacks guarantees for the city'.

The mayor is asked not to sign the memorandum of understanding and a new programme agreement is proposed that would provide for total decarbonisation within five years. Bitetti calls for a special decree-law for Taranto.

An agreement is therefore called for," the note said, "that 'guarantees the protection of the health of citizens and workers, ensures environmental protection and jobs' and also provides for 'measures for economic diversification and the enhancement of training and healthcare in the area'. Mayor Bitetti also put forward 'the request to the government,' reiterates the Palazzo di Città's note, 'to adopt a special decree-law for Taranto, which would put in place resources dedicated to industrial reconversion together with extraordinary tools for urban and environmental regeneration that can at the same time attract investment.

At Mimit there is 'amazement at yet another call for the Taranto City Council, which was scheduled this time for 11 August, as agreed at the institutional level. It is irresponsible to continue postponing any decision, disregarding commitments made. This violates the constitutional principle of loyal cooperation between state bodies, putting tens of thousands of workers at risk'. This is what Mimit sources say about 'the press release from the majority of the Taranto municipality announcing the calling off of the municipal council scheduled for the 11th, which was supposed to take decisions - as repeatedly announced, also at institutional level - on the inter-institutional programme agreement for the full decarbonisation of the former Ilva steel plant'.