The government's so-called
Unblock Italy decree designed to kickstart the economy through
spending on infrastructure could make projects more vulnerable
to graft, the Bank of Italy said Tuesday.
The measures, approved by the cabinet in mid-September and
now before parliament for conversion into law, contemplate
"exemptions from ordinary procedures" that could increase the
cost and duration of public works projects and put them at
greater risk of corruption, Italy's central bank told the Lower
House.
Separately on Tuesday Italy's competition watchdog warned
that the mechanism contained in the decree for awarding motorway
concessions was potentially damaging to competition.
The decree made up of 44 articles is designed to restart
Italy's recession-battered economy through multi-billion-euro
infrastructure projects including new highways, railways, and
major airport renovations.
It also gives the government the prerogative of taking over
from regions should they fail to spend an estimated 61 billion
euros in European Union funds earmarked for infrastructural
investments.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
