With Voci, the public administration talks to businesses about red tape

The Civil Service Department on Simplification and Invitalia present research on easing administrative burdens

by Marzia Redaelli

22 May 2026

Ma quanto mi costi? La burocrazia vista dalle imprese: i risultati della ricerca VOCl a confronto con le associazioni di categoria
Nella foto: relatori (AdobeStock) — Ma quanto mi costi? La burocrazia vista dalle imprese: i risultati della ricerca VOCl a confronto con le associazioni di categoria Nella foto: relatori (AdobeStock)

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The areas of inquiry
Results
A starting point

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

A survey to measure the burden of regulatory rules and administrative procedures on small and micro enterprises but, above all, to improve the relationship between citizens, enterprises and public administration.

This is the purpose of the Voci (Evaluation of Administrative Burdens on Citizens and Businesses) research, promoted by the Civil Service Department on the effectiveness of simplification reforms in municipal administrations, carried out with the support of Invitalia. The analysis was conducted as part of the PAeSe - PA and Simplification project, which in turn is part of the Pnrr.

This was discussed in Trento at the panel "Ma quanto mi costi? La burocrazia vista dalle imprese" Siriana Salvi, Head of the PA Reforms Monitoring and Implementation Service, and Annalisa Giachi, Promo PA, by the Department of Public Function. The meeting was attended by Giovanni Battaiola, President of the Association of Hoteliers and Tourist Enterprises of the Province of Trento, Diego Coller, President of Confagricoltura Trentino, Mauro Paissan, President of Confesercenti Trentino and Gianluca Barbacovi, President of Coldiretti Trentino Alto Adige, moderated by Andrea Chiacchiararelli, Head of Invitalia's Public Function, who brought the experience of companies in the area.

The areas of investigation

The Voci study targeted companies in the agri-food sector and those in the tourism and hospitality sector, which are considered particularly strategic for the Italian economy, and indicated the entire lifecycle of companies, from start-up, to the management of workers, social security, tax and administrative burdens, the application for incentives, and changes in the company's object or structure.

Voci did not only collect quantitative data, but also the direct testimonies of citizens and businesses and their proposals for action to simplify fulfilment.

The results

The costs of the food sector for the 667,378 micro and small enterprises surveyed amount to EUR 2.1 billion per year, with the bulk (EUR 1.52 billion) spent on consultants and half (52 per cent) concentrated on tax compliance paperwork. In particular, the most burdensome obligations concern fire prevention practices, tax returns and safety obligations.

From the interviewees' accounts, it emerges that companies are forced to play the role of information hub between the various bodies, due to the lack of interaction between the different portals or operating systems, and that they must necessarily rely on intermediaries to overcome the difficulties, with an increase in costs. Among the proposals put forward by companies to overcome problems and reduce burdens, therefore, is the adoption of a single portal for agricultural enterprises, allowing all fulfilments and the creation of rules that take into account the specificities of territories.

The 228,552 micro and small tourism and accommodation enterprises, on the other hand, spend EUR 864 million a year on administrative tasks, again concentrated (EUR 606 million) on consultancy and most of the paperwork (51 per cent) on the management of tax burdens. Also for the tourism sector, the most burdensome fulfilments concern fire prevention practices.

Operators also denounce disproportionate obligations compared to smaller, family-run establishments because they are based on large hotels, the difficulty in using portals, the lack of assistance and answers, and the cumbersome information for business start-ups.

Suggestions, therefore, concern the integration of systems for dialogue with the PA and the differentiation of tourist activity between occasional and professional. There is also a call for a more streamlined way of managing staff and guests of short-term rentals.

A starting point

In summary, Voci highlights the need for digitisation to be accompanied by integrated operations and user assistance. Another relevant piece of information from the research is the need to use intermediaries for relations with the public administration, which, while facilitating small businesses, significantly increases costs. Finally, excessive institutional fragmentation emerges, which needs greater coordination and unified direction of processes.

Simplification and digitisation are not enough if they fall from above.

Marzia Redaelliredattore
Luogo: Milano
Lingue parlate: italiano, inglese, francese
Argomenti: Financial markets, asset management, macroeconomics
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