EU mustn't hinder our kids' safety

(ANSA) - Rome, September 23 - The EU must not hinder the safety of Italy's schoolchildren, Premier Matteo Renzi wrote on Facebook Friday. The premier earlier in the day said funds to make Italy's schools anti-seismic in the wake of a devastating August 24 earthquake in central Italy "will be spent outside" the EU Stability and Growth Pact. "The Union we want and have helped build must not become an obstacle to the safety of our children," Renzi wrote. "Stable schools come before stable bureaucracies. Today I appealed to the rest of the country.
    Mayors must intervene on schools - all of them. Let projects for school anti-seismic upgrades and improvements be fielded right away. All the money for schools will be outside the (EU) Stability Pact. We've had three devastating earthquakes in seven years. And we're confirming a 65% ecobonus for anti-seismic upgrades will be extended to 2017. Let those who can, work on their residences, since it's a good tax deal to boot". The 2016 so-called eco-bonus is a 65% tax break on building renovations leading to energy savings, for both individuals and businesses.