The government's new public-tender
code will fight graft and free up public works in Italy, Premier
Matteo Renzi said Friday.
The new code unveiled today "closes off the path to
corruption," he told a press conference.
"This government is working with determination and
dedication," he said.
"The fight against corruption is a priority - we are
absolutely in the front lines," he said.
The new anti-graft code "represents another step
forward... on the way to freeing up (public) works in Italy," he
said.
It will include the "principle of 'public debate' and a
definite timeframe - if we want to do a major work we will
involve the population, but within pre-determined time limits,"
he said.
The new code aiming to eliminate graft after a long string
of public-tender scandals around the country in recent years
will also simplify the rules, Renzi said.
"You fight corruption by drafting new simpler rules, not
more complicated ones," the premier explained.
Also on Friday, Renzi said there is no migrant invasion
underway in Italy and that the government has "clear ideas" on
how to deal with the ongoing asylum seeker crisis.
"The EU is coming up with a strategy (ranging) from aid to
African countries to blocking the journeys of death," Renzi
said.
"I don't want to minimise, but I do want to send a reliable
message - the number of arrivals is just slightly higher than
last year".
Further, Italy won't look the other way if Austria shuts
down its side of the border at the Brenner Pass to keep asylum
seekers out.
"To our Austrian friends I say the Brenner is not just a
tunnel linking our countries (but) a workplace for many
companies," he said.
"We will not turn the other way if someone breaks the
rules...but I trust they won't be".
He also thanked Pope Francis ahead of his visit to the
Greek island of Lesbos in support of refugees on Saturday.
"Pope Francis' trip is a...very simple but very strong
gesture," he said. "The pope has repeatedly called the EU to a
different role".
The pope's visit to the Greek island where many refugees
wash up follows one he made to the Italian island of Lampedusa
in July 2013 - three months after becoming pontiff - in which he
voiced his concerns over the migrant and refugee emergency and
the many lives being lost at sea.
Lesbos and Lampedusa are the first landfall for people
taking to the Mediterranean - often in unseaworthy boats run by
unscrupulous traffickers - in an effort to flee war zones in
Africa and the Middle East.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the EU
to set up humanitarian corridors for asylum seekers to cross
into Europe in a safe and legal way.
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