League, M5S reach offshore-drilling deal

(ANSA) - Rome, January 24 - The League and the 5-Star Movement (M5S) have reached an agreement over offshore drilling, an issue that has reportedly caused tension within the ruling coalition, sources said on Thursday.
    Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio's M5S has expressed opposition to offshore drilling and on Wednesday Environment Minister Sergio Costa said he would not sign permits for new projects.
    Fellow Deputy Premier, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's League has criticised this and the M5S's opposition to other infrastructure projects.
    The issue of offshore drilling features in the government's simplification decree that is being examined in the Senate. According to the agreement, offshore drilling fees will increase 25 fold and hydrocarbon research will be suspended for 18 months, the sources said.
    League sources confirmed that the deal had been reached but added that irritation was growing about the "party of noes". The League sources said that "jobs have been saved, the continuation of extraction activities and the renewal of the deferred concessions has been guaranteed" while adding that "the policy of saying no to everything is not good for the country".