Premier Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday
hailed his government's simplification decree as the
"springboard Italy needs at the moment" after the package
streamlining bureaucratic procedures for public works was
approved by his cabinet.
"Tenders will be faster," the premier told a press conference.
"There will be no tender competitions for (contracts) under
150,000.
"The threshold for the direct assignment (of projects) goes up
from 40,000 to 150,000 (euros).
"As of today the public authorities will be able to get works
started.
"The tenders and competitions will be negotiated up to five
million euros.
"The rule remains that competitions (are held for contracts)
over five million".
The premier said the crime of abuse of office was being revised
so that public officials are no longer terrified of giving the
all-clear to projects out of fear of possible legal troubles
further down the road.
But he stressed that this does not mean the State is going soft
on corruption.
"We are lifting the speed limit, Italy needs to go fast, but we
are increasing the speed cameras too," said Conte.
"We don't want to whet criminal appetites to alter competition
and make illegal gains".
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