EU, Meloni: ETS proposal does not satisfy us; united front within the EU on a change of approach
Interview with *Milano Finanza*: ‘The migrant crisis shows that Europe must protect its borders’
Key points
On the issue of the ETS, ‘I want to be very clear: the revision proposal put forward by the European Commission does not satisfy us at all. It contains some positive elements that also reflect several of our demands and represent the first outcome of the work carried out over recent months, but it is not enough. That is why Italia intends to play a leading role in the negotiations and – as we have already done successfully with the revision of the Climate Law – to form a united front with other nations that share our views on this issue and are joining us in calling on Europe to change course’. So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in an interview with Milano-Finanza.
Meloni: ‘The migrant crisis shows that Europe must protect its borders’
With regard to the migrant issue and the Ceuta case, the Prime Minister emphasises that ‘the overwhelming majority of European nations share the position that Italia has expressed in recent days, namely that Europe’s priority is to protect its external borders from uncontrolled immigration, to rule out any security or terrorism risks, and to defend the freedom of movement that underpins the Schengen system’. “The serious migration crisis that has unfolded in Ceuta and the possible new wave – predicted by the Spanish authorities themselves for 15 August – require our utmost attention and the need to continue taking all necessary measures,” Meloni asserts.
Solutions for families to tackle high energy costs
One part of the interview focuses on measures to protect families. The government will use the €14 billion in additional funding available over the next two years to tackle high energy prices and reduce costs for households and businesses, explains the Prime Minister, whose government will seek to ‘mitigate the impact of rising prices on vulnerable households and businesses, but more generally on all Italians’.
‘Determined to press ahead with nuclear power’
On nuclear power, Meloni confirms: ‘We are determined to press ahead, with great speed and practicality’, considering it ‘the real solution for our energy security and for achieving, in the medium and long term, significantly lower costs than at present’.
“Let’s put 21 billion back into the pockets of Italians”
On the subject of taxation, Meloni highlights the measures taken to support the middle class: ‘Every year, between the reduction in the tax wedge and cuts to personal income tax, we put 21 billion euros back into Italians’ pockets.’
