The coronavirus crisis should be used
to redesign Italy, Premier Giuseppe Conte said Wednesday in
explaining the next phase of the emergency.
"The crisis should now be used to redraw the map of the
country", he said, saying that key structural reforms would be
introduced.
"We must act with the spirit of Republic Day and of sharing,"
he said.
Conte said Italy's credibility would be proved in "how we use
EU money", referring to the Recovery Fund and other schemes.
He said the government would ask to access SURE funding and
European Investment Bank funding too, while on the European
Stability Mechanism, the government would weight the regulations
and then parliament would decide.
Data on the coronavirus emergency have been "encouraging"
since May 4, he said.
"We deserve happiness after all the sacrifices," said Conte
after inter-regional travel was resumed on Wednesday.
Conte said "it's good that we have rediscovered social life
but we must respect the rules" after lockdown has been
progressively eased since last month.
He said there had been "delays" in the issuing of coronavirus
benefits but "we will make their issuance quicker".
Conte said the government would "stake a lot" on the right to
study and would provide broadband Internet access to the whole
country.
The premier said the tax system was currently "unfair and
ineffective" and a "serious" reform was needed.
As for a revived proposal to build a bridge across the
Messina Strait to Sicily, Conte said "I will evaluate everything
without prejudice".
Conte said a plan to relaunch the Italian economy would have
to be drawn up with the opposition.
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