Italy is falling behind on spending, Partito Democratico MEP Antonio Misiani told Euractiv, putting the spotlight on the work of Raffaele Fitto, the new commission vice-president for cohesion and recovery, during his time in government.

The Italian Court of Auditors’ bi-annual report on the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which was part of the file Fitto oversaw in his former ministerial role, shows that all 39 European milestones set for the first half of 2024 have been met, bringing total progress to 43%.

However, as of 30 September 2024, actual spending for the NRRP amounted to €57.7 billion, representing 30% of the plan’s total funding and about 66% of the amount initially planned to be spent by the end of 2024.

Fitto, who now serves as executive vice president and commissioner responsible for leading the work to implement the agreed reforms and investments set out in member states’ recovery and resilience plans, “has left Italy with a heavy legacy,” Misiani, senator and economic expert for the Democratic Party, told Euractiv in an interview.

The delays “highlight a difficulty in implementing investments, particularly in the plan, which is very concerning as the 2026 deadline approaches, and the closer it gets, the more likely it becomes that a request for an extension will be necessary, although this is by no means a given.”

According to Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Italian government has repeatedly expressed the need for an extension. However, newly appointed Commissioner Fitto has ruled out this option now that he is in charge of implementing the plan.

“Let’s see if this opposition to extending the 2026 deadline holds until the end because if the pace of implementation remains so slow, Italy risks missing out on a golden opportunity for development,” Misiani has said.

While criticising the NRRP’s implementation record, the senator acknowledges that “the blame certainly cannot be placed entirely on one government” as “there are structural issues within Italy’s public administration”.

“We expected and still expect, in light of the Court of Auditors’ data, less triumphalism, less rhetoric, and much more operational efficiency from the government because time is running out,” he added.

But Misiani appears reluctant to judge Fitto’s performance in his new role as commissioner, saying he will not be judged on “prejudices” but on “facts.”

(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)

Source: Euractiv.com