Transition 5.0, Assolombarda: 'Stopping funding is a disappointing sign of inconsistency'
President Alvise Biffi: 'Additional uncertainty factor penalising companies that were counting on using the last period established by the measure'. Minister Urso: 'We are working to meet the expectations of companies'
The stop to Transition 5.0 came as a cold shower for companies. And it leads to the harsh comment of Assolombarda. The plan that was supposed to accompany companies in their digital and energy transformation has officially run out: the 2.5 billion euros available are finished. Those who will now try to book the tax credit on the Gse portal will only find a 'waiting list' message.
For the president of Assolombarda, Alvise Biffi, 'the sudden communication from the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy regarding the exhaustion of resources linked to Transition 5.0 is a disappointing sign of inconsistency with respect to the declared desire to support the efforts of companies. Words that sum up the widespread unease among Lombard entrepreneurs, taken by surprise by an unexpected stop that risks freezing investments already planned.
The plan, managed by Mimit with funds from the NRP, had a total allocation of EUR 6.3 billion for the 2024-2025 investments. but, especially in the initial phase, the draw was lower than expected and the government therefore decided to revise the commitment in order to allocate the residual funds to other measures. In recent months it was therefore agreed to freeze access to the incentives at EUR 2.5 billion, diverting the remaining EUR 3.8 billion to various measures. The 2.5 billion operating ceiling has thus been reached in these days. Waiting for possible waivers there is only the waiting list then.
Biffi speaks of "a worrying choice, also in light of the difficult economic situation". And in fact, for the president of Assolombarda it is 'a further factor of uncertainty that penalises companies that, with responsibility and acting within the framework of the rules defined by the Ministry, were counting on using the last period established by the measure,' after months of regulatory adjustments and technical clarifications. The impression, among companies, is that the measure was interrupted just as it was starting to get going, thanks to the simplifications introduced in recent months.
Many, in fact, had started projects but postponed the reservation of credits pending final energy saving documentation. Now they risk being excluded. The Ministry's technicians are working on a 'safeguard', but the margins appear to be narrow: the 2.5 billion ceiling has been agreed with Brussels, which has asked for the remaining funds to be diverted to other NRP measures.
