The measure

Chamber of Deputies gives the green light to the NRRP decree: from Intercity trains to the ‘anti-heatwave’ furlough scheme, the latest developments

The measure covers a number of areas, including rail infrastructure, tourism and artificial intelligence. It will now go to the Senate for final approval

by Pietro Menzani

28 July 2026

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Versione italiana

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Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Chamber of Deputies has given the green light to the bill converting the Infrastructure-PNRR Decree-Law: 152 in favour, 82 against and 7 abstentions. The bill now passes to the Senate for final approval, which must take place by 25 August. The bill addresses the issue of the tender for the award of the Intercity service: a sticking point that has delayed its approval due to the matter of the single lot, which has met with opposition from the European Commission.

The text of the decree is divided into three chapters: the first deals with infrastructure measures, the second with the implementation of the NRRP, and the last contains urgent financial provisions. The decree provides for a wide range of measures, from provisions to ensure the security of energy supplies to training programmes on the use of artificial intelligence.

Infrastructure

The measure primarily concerns the transport sector, setting 31 December 2026 as the deadline by which the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport must launch the tender procedure for the award of public service contracts relating to Intercity rail services, thereby amending the 2021 Annual Competition Act.

The original wording provided for the contract to be divided exclusively into several lots. The amendment allowing the contract to be awarded into one or more lots (and thus the possibility of a single lot) raised objections from the European Commission. Following discussions with Brussels, an amendment restored the provision to its original version.

The bill also extends the deadlines by two years – to 3 August 2028 and 10 December 2028 respectively – the deadlines for the adoption of expropriation decrees relating to the completion of the Rome–Latina intermodal link and the Cisterna–Valmontone motorway link.

Still within the rail infrastructure sector, the measure provides for the authorisation of total expenditure of 50.2 million euros to enable the implementation of compensatory works in the municipalities affected by the Turin–Lyon high-speed rail (TAV) construction sites. The allocated funds amount to €0.3 million for 2026, €11 million for 2027, €10 million for 2028, €6.1 million for 2029 and €22.8 million for 2030.

Waste disposal and energy security

The measure also entrusts Sogin – the state-owned company responsible for the decommissioning of Italian nuclear power stations and the management of radioactive waste – with the treatment, conditioning and disposal of radioactive waste resulting from the decommissioning of the RTS nuclear reactor - 1 G. Galilei of the Italian Navy.

Furthermore, to ensure the security and continuity of supply and the resilience of strategic infrastructure, even in the event of a crisis affecting the national energy system, provision is made for the appointment of a special government commissioner for strategic facilities. The commissioner shall be appointed within thirty days of the date on which the measure comes into force, and their term of office shall last nine months.

Tourism and employment

As regards tourism, however, the deadline for carrying out energy efficiency improvements, environmental sustainability measures and digital innovation projects using grants from the Revolving Fund for Businesses has been extended by two months – from 30 June to 31 August 2026. The aim is to carry out infrastructure investments to upgrade accommodation facilities.

The decree also reintroduces provisions already in force in previous years regarding the possibility for certain economic operators to suspend or reduce their work activities, thereby gaining exceptional access to the wage supplementation scheme, in the event of exceptional heatwaves. The CIG scheme for extreme heat is set to run from 1 July to 31 December 2026, with enhanced safeguards for the construction, agriculture, logistics and stone-working sectors. The measure applies when temperatures exceed 35°C, with such hours excluded from the calculation of the 52-week period and the additional contribution for businesses waived.

The NRRP

The measure also implements the reform of public accounting standards 1.15 of PNRR, ‘setting out the scope of application and the timetable for the adoption of the single economic and balance-sheet accounting system, the relevant framework of accounting principles and rules, the preparatory obligations incumbent on public administrations, the content of the training programme and the rules governing the pilot phase’.

It is also envisaged that, from 1 January 2027 Istat will produce quarterly estimates of the general government balance, broken down by sub-sector, and that, within five days of the publication of Eurostat data, it will submit these estimates to the State General Accounting Office for subsequent publication on its website.

Artificial intelligence

Finally, the draft bill provides for financial funding of up to 100 million euros, drawn from the resources of the 2021–2027 National School and Skills Programme, to bring national legislation into line with the European regulation on artificial intelligence. At the heart of the measure is the introduction of literacy and training programmes on the use of artificial intelligence systems.