Pnrr, thaw between Europe and the Meloni government in the third installment

The day after the question and answer between Brussels and the Palazzo Chigi about the Pnrr controls, the thaw arrives. The EU Commission makes it known that with Italy “constructive exchanges are ongoing” and that “it is not uncommon for the assessment of payments to exceed the deadline”. The Minister of European Affairs, Raffaele Fitto, speaks of “case closed”, on behalf of the government that on Monday, June 5th, in the Chamber, is preparing to place its trust in the dl Pa and, therefore, also in the amendment that excludes the concomitant control of the Court of Auditors over the implementation of the Pnrr. A circumstance that continues to be criticized by the opposition.

The softer position of Brussels is reported by a spokesperson for the EU Commission, according to whom, regarding Italy’s request for payment of the third installment of the Pnrr, “the evaluation work is still ongoing” and “constructive exchanges are ongoing with the Italian authorities”. But the most important thing is that, “as a general rule, we do not comment on draft legislative acts”, comments the same spokesperson, and “Italy has implemented a solid audit and control system to guarantee the protection of the financial interests of the ‘Union ‘ Thus, “we will communicate the result of our evaluation as soon as we have concluded it. It is not uncommon to take some time beyond the indicative deadline, for example what happened with the payment requests of Luxembourg, Romania and Slovakia”.

So is the case closed? «Absolutely», because «the clarification and having explained that there was a misunderstanding resolves the issue. The work that the government does with the European Commission is one of perfect collaboration and relations, starting with those at the top between Meloni and von der Leyen, are fruitful and positive from joint work», explains Fitto, who later assures: «In the third installment We carried out a very intense and positive work. We are now in a verification phase with the European Commission that I believe will end positively and without any difficulty”. According to the minister, “Italy will not miss this opportunity” and “the opposition’s criticisms are legitimate”, but “we expect a responsible attitude with proposals of merit”.

The controversies, however, do not diminish. On the one hand, the executive receives – with regard to the disposition of the Court of Auditors – the positive opinion of the emeritus president of the Constitutional Court Cesare Mirabelli, according to which “it is justified, in this case, to eliminate the concomitant control to speed up the procedure, at a time when deadlines are very limited for the execution of the works foreseen in the Plan”. But, on the other hand, the opposition goes on the attack: “Europe’s findings about the control role of the Court of Auditors are correct and the scathing response from Palazzo Chigi demonstrates that the EU’s fears are well founded”, he says. secretary of Più Europa, Riccardo Magi. While, according to the M5S, an “unscrupulous and arrogant government intends to withdraw from the Court of Auditors the prerogative of carrying out the so-called concomitant control” and therefore also “the commissions and Parliament will no longer be able to control the management of the Pnrr funds during construction “, explains the deputy leader of the group in the Chamber Vittoria Baldino. “There are no delays and talks are ongoing between the Executive and the Commission to make the necessary changes “. I am sure that Italy will spend all the resources allocated well”, responds Undersecretary for Infrastructure Tullio Ferrante.