The event «Roma locomotiva d’Italia», which completes the cycle of meetings proposed by «Il Tempo» on the role of the capital in the future of the country, was the scene of important announcements by institutional representatives, religious authorities and managers present. Moderated by the newspaper’s editor, Davide Vecchi, the initiative clearly showed how Rome, at the center of major events and projects in the coming years, is capable of guaranteeing enormous development potential, in socioeconomic terms, not only for its territory but also and especially for the country system as a whole. The interventions of the participating personalities were all focused on the many opportunities for Italy that in the coming years will see the Capital as a protagonist, from the Jubilee of 2025 to the candidacy for Expo 2030 to conclude with what promises to be a brilliant decade for Rome with the Extraordinary Jubilee 2033.
A “TREASURE” OF 45 BILLION. A preliminary assessment by Luiss University quantifies the economic returns associated solely with the simple concession of Expo 2030 at 45 billion. Then there are the projects for the energy utilization plant and the Roma Techonopole: from the push for an ecological transition, which could become a model on a national scale, to the consolidation of a university center for research, technology transfer and high specialized training in scientific disciplines, with 100 million from the Pnrr already earmarked for the initiative. European resources that will allow Rome, the Italian center of cinema, to assert itself as the Capital of Culture: the Cinecittà film studios are involved in a major modernization and expansion plan, in partnership with the Cdp (300 million foreseen by the Pnrr) . Stages of a process centered on public-private synergy and aimed at modernizing infrastructure, attracting foreign capital, positioning our country as a reference in the management of events of international importance and significance. A topic addressed at the beginning by Ambassador Giampiero Massolo, president of the Expo Rome 2030 Promotion Committee: “The ‘voters’ who will have to choose the Expo site are the governments, against which we are carrying out a real capillary electoral campaign. We are alerting you to the advantages that can materialize if we are your choice». The intention is to offer the world a unique setting like the Roman one, with the qualities that distinguish it and that it can make available to everyone. Massolo highlighted how our project for the Expo has been recognized as excellent in terms of content, with one precise particularity: it will leave something for the city, no matter what. A legacy from which we can benefit in terms of method and planning.
THE “GLOBAL MODEL” CAPITAL AT THE CENTER OF A RESOURCE SYSTEM Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, insists precisely on the centrality of Rome and our country at an international level, focusing precisely on the opportunity that the Expo can represent. “We need to put the spotlight on the capital. Precisely for this reason, we have a duty to support the candidacy of Expo 2030. There are competitors that could put us in difficulties, such as Odessa, which has the advantage of being able to obtain approval that is also ’emotional’. We expect to reach the final, we’re giving everything, the whole Italian system is moving but it’s not an easy game». A theme closely linked to that of major works, on which Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, anticipated very important news, announcing that in those hours the project for the procurement code was being defined, later approved in the last Council of Ministers. A “leaner, more effective, modern” code, in the words of the deputy prime minister of the Northern League. He later focused clearly on the decisive role of infrastructures, recalling the usefulness of the bridge over the strait in bringing the country together, until he read the initiative “Roma locomotiva d’Italia” which he defined as “an idea absolutely in line with that of a federal country that values autonomy. Someone puts them in competition and in competition, but this is not the case. A federal system, a presidential system, that places the capital at the center, values the territories and the most positive experiences”. presence, together with that of the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, was an opportunity to bring to light an interesting institutional synergy, which departs from the central themes of the conference and approaches the table proposal on the “casa plan”, on which the mayor of the capital declared: “I couldn’t agree more. We must be supported because resources are needed to accommodate people in a dignified manner and guarantee respect for the law.” in which the Capital is working for the future, reiterating the centrality of the next appointments: «As soon as the Dpcm Giubileo is signed by the Government, we will start all the maintenance of the Metro lines and the renovation of the stations of line A, which I would like to transform it into an airport gate, in addition, new tram lines and the modernization of surface railway lines will be started. Thanks to the Jubilee, the Pnrr and the Expo project, but also thanks to strategic vision choices, we believe that Rome has a series of great things that will be accomplished, not in biblical times, but in the coming years. We resumed some things at the last minute, such as completing all the financing for the entire C line». An interesting comment is that about the Pantheon, one of the symbols of the capital represented by our cultural assets, which may be worth the cost of a ticket, as proposed by Gennaro Sangiuliano, Minister of Culture: «We are reflecting on this, it could be a right choice, he is thinking of exemptions for the Romans. If they are useful resources for the city, it might be an idea to evaluate».
ROME IS A SYMBOL OF VALUES AND LEGALITY The intervention of one of the “big names” present, the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, begins with the legality mentioned by the mayor: «The question of housing availability is one of the themes of big cities. We will have a meeting with the mayors of Rome, Milan and Naples, because we share the opportunity to give special attention to three great metropolises. One of the themes that align these large cities is the management of real estate assets, combining the management of legality with the theme of providing housing for the most needy. In a reality like Rome, the fact that large parts of the city are victims of the phenomenon of illegal occupations makes real estate investment complicated. I think it affects the ability to attract investment». One of the major issues is at the center of the debate, which sees the attractiveness of investors and international players as one of the main qualities of our capital to be valued. The speech by Adolfo Urso, Minister of Business and Made in Italy, is again based on international events, in particular Expo 2030: “Rome is the world capital with the greatest number of diplomats, more than Washington. Italy and Europe must be a beacon of civilization, values and freedom. Especially in these days when these values are threatened, like in China or Russia, but also in Iran. I therefore hope that the candidacy for Expo2030 marks the rebirth of Rome, to once again be the locomotive of the country. The capital as a productive, commercial center for the digital economy that can make it a true development pole. We must remember an important aspect: the axiom between values and production. That’s why I would like it to be an Expo twinned with Odessa, therefore a symbol of Europe as a new beacon of the values of freedom in the world. It would mean bringing together the values of the West and allowing Europe to be the locomotive of the world”. Factors that can reinforce its protagonism, based, therefore, on resources of an economic, industrial nature, but also of “value”. A trait highlighted by the words of Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia, Archbishop President of the Pontifical Academy for Life and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute, as well as spiritual advisor to the Community of Sant’Egidio: “In the chromosomes of Rome is the idea of a city that cannot remain enclosed within its walls. It must be open by its nature to the whole world. In the period of Charlemagne, Rome granted pardons to those condemned to death. In the history of Rome lies its essence as the engine of European civilizations. Pius XII was the one who rediscovered the strength of Christianity, the State-Church dialogue represents a great resource for the community. I hope that the coming Jubilee will confirm this city’s role in the world, hosting the Vatican and the world’s true moral leader, our Pope Francis. A new meeting may be needed to talk about this ‘Rome engine from Italy’, working on a great new idea of a city that matters to everyone’s future.”
INVESTING FOR A CITY THAT RETURNS TO ATTRACTIVENESS A capital that needs to travel fast. In view of the many resources it can offer, many others are made available precisely to support the city and its territory in its role as a driving force for the country’s destinations and, as the numerous interventions demonstrate, also for the entire European continent. On this front, the declarations of the CEO of the Ferrovie dello Stato group, Luigi Ferraris, were significant: «Four billion euros of investment in Rome over the next ten years to make the capital an increasingly attractive city, where its residents will favor transport public cars to the private car, considering the entire rail system of the city as «a big subway in the open air». This is the objective illustrated by the person in charge, who underlined the widespread presence of the FS Group in the area. “In the municipality of Rome alone, we manage 43 stations, 99 in the province and 167 in the entire Lazio region. With the closure of the rail ring, an integrated network will be created with the high-speed and secondary rail line, as well as the connection with Fiumicino airport, on which we are working with Aeroporti di Roma ». With these numbers, the FS Group is ready to do its part for a capital that is preparing to experience crucial events such as the Jubilee 2025. For this event that will attract millions of pilgrims to Rome, numerous projects have been launched by Ferrovie dello Stato since the requalification of Piazza dei Cinquecento to the Tiburtina axis, the development of the Appia Antica Park and, finally, the closure of the railway ring”. (Mario Benedito)
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
