Manoeuvre, the 20 euro cut in the Rai licence fee in the bill is cancelled

The League's battle horse, the manoeuvre passed at the end of 2023 had provided for a reduction, but only for this year, of the Rai licence fee from EUR 90 to EUR 70 in the electricity bill. The lost revenue for Rai was compensated with a contribution of 430 million for 2024. The text approved by the Chamber of Deputies lacks confirmation of the appropriation that had allowed the licence fee to be cut last year.

The confirmation of the cut had been announced at a press conference on 16 October by Economy Minister Giorgetti. The cut could therefore be inserted during the parliamentary course. In the past manoeuvre the amount of the fee, at the urging of the League, had been 'redetermined at 70 euro for 2024'. At the same time, the text had provided for a contribution for the development of the public service of 430 million euro, also for 2024.

In order to contribute to public finance savings, the manoeuvre also envisages an intervention on public TV. In 2025, there is to be no increase in expenditure items related to personnel costs and the awarding of consultancy mandates compared to the level of expenditure in 2023. For the year 2026, RAI will instead be required to achieve a reduction in the volume of expenditure of at least 2 per cent compared to the corresponding amount incurred in the average of the three-year period 2021, 2022 and 2023. For the year 2027, the reduction is increased to 4 per cent.

In this regard, the Board of Directors of the RAI in today's meeting expressed apprehension about the provisions regarding the future of the company contained in the draft law of the Budget Manoeuvre 2025 that - albeit with a view to a dutiful containment of costs - would risk limiting the autonomy of our Public Service and conditioning its choices and activities with possible impacts on employment, as well as on the induced activities'. This was explained in a note from Viale Mazzini.