Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi recently announced that in the current cabinet, his government approved new measures amounting to 14 billion euros, to support the country’s households and businesses.
“We want to support the purchasing power of households and the productive capacity of businesses. “We are also increasing investment in renewable energy to strengthen our independence from Russian gas,” said the Italian prime minister.
He added that the new financial support measures adopted today add to the 15 billion euros allocated in recent months.
More specifically, Draghi confirmed that the reduction of fuel taxes will continue until July 8. At the same time, financial assistance to lower-income families in terms of gas and electricity bills will be extended for another three months.
The Italian state will increase by an average of 20% the amounts it will pay to companies that have undertaken state-owned contracts, in terms of the cost of raw materials.
The Draghi government also approved a € 200 bonus for 28 million workers and retirees with an annual income of no more than € 35,000. However, there will also be a reduction in the monthly cost of using public transport, always for the low-income earners.
The bonus for employees and retirees, as Mario Draghi explained, will be financed thanks to the taxation of the super profits of energy companies. “If the situation worsens, we will proceed with new interventions,” said the Italian technocratic prime minister.
Regarding energy capital, Italian Minister of Ecological Transition Roberto Tsingolani stressed that his country will use the coal-fired plants for another 18 months and that Italy will be able to become autonomous from Russian gas within 2024. .
Regarding yesterday’s interview of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the Berlusconi television group, Mario Draghi stressed: “What Lavrov said is disgusting. The statements about Hitler, no, are a scandal. This interview was a monologue, and this is not particularly remarkable. “At the same time, this interview proves that we are a free country.”
Referring to the Russian request for payment of natural gas in rubles, the head of the Italian government stressed that his country’s position fully coincides with those of Germany and France and that Rome will follow the instructions of the European Commission. “We are waiting for the Commission to decide with a legal interpretation whether the payment in rubles is a ‘bypass’ of sanctions,” the Italian prime minister added.
Asked about Italy’s overall stance on the war in Ukraine, Mario Draghi said: “We do not want the tension to escalate, but we do not want to leave Ukraine either. We certainly do not want a democratic country to become a helot. We do not want him to be enslaved. “
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