The cabinet on Friday approved
sweeping measures to revamp Italy's judicial, political and
economic systems, including the government's so-called Unblock
Italy decree designed to cut red tape, promote investments and
lift the economy out of recession, its third in six years.
Speaking after the meeting, Premier Matteo Renzi pledged
4.6 billion euros for five airport investments and 3.8 billion
euros for projects "that are ready to be built".
The cabinet also approved spending of 10 billion euros over
"the next 12 months" on public works in Italy's impoverished
south, including projects involving transportation connections
between Napoli and Bari as well as Palermo and Messina.
He confirmed the government will continue to offer his
trademark 80-euro monthly tax bonus for some 11 million
low-income Italians "for the next few years".
The premier promised to take the battle against recession
all the way to the EU, as he announced a summit on growth to
take place October 6.
Italy will stick to the EU-mandated 3% debt-to-GDP ratio,
but there must be more flexibility, he added. "I don't think you
can create jobs by decree," he said.
The premier also said that his school reform package that
may include the hiring of as many as 100,000 teachers will be
made public Wednesday for debate.
"The program is ready and the financial cover is also in
place," he said.
In what Renzi called "a revolution," the cabinet wen on to
approve his justice reform measures designed to halve the
backlog of civil cases now clogging Italy's courts and driving
investors away. The measures will also make civil judges liable
for negligence or malfeasance.
As well, Renzi promised action on a controversial justice
measure - making false financial statements once again a
full-blown crime rather than merely a misdemeanour that doesn't
earn a jail term. The law had previously been changed by
ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Among other approved measures was a bill simplifying
current norms on tenders and bringing them up to EU standards,
Renzi said.
"We will have the same rules in Italy as in the rest of
Europe, and what is allowed in the European Union will also be
allowed in Italy," he explained.
The measures will begin to take effect early next year,
said Renzi.
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