Italy is on course to hit national recovery plan deadlines established by Brussels, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto.
The announcement followed the Italian Court of Auditors criticising the government for several delays.
Some €191.5 billion in investments and 527 targets are forecast within the country’s recovery and resilience plan. Yet critics have suggested that bureaucracy and an, at times, ineffective public administration could prevent a rapid implementation, Euractiv reports.
“Our plan is the biggest in Europe, and a revision of it requires a careful check to avoid the risk of doing hastily and badly”, PM Meloni stated during an interview with Il Messagero.
Meloni went on to say that the country is on track and will utilise the funds “usefully and efficiently.”
In addition, the European Affairs Minister also expressed concerns over spending the Brussels funds.
“Some interventions between now and 30 June 2026 cannot be realised, which is mathematical. We must say this clearly and not wait until 2025 to open the debate on whose fault it is,” Fitto stated.
Furthermore, the Court of Auditors found in a recent report that €24.5 billion had been spent last year, whilst just €1.2 billion has been paid so far this year. As such, out of the total €191.5 billion, Italy had therefore spent 13.4%.
“A constructive approach is needed from everyone so that projects are implemented and accounted for properly,” Fitto commented, referring to the court of auditor’s analysis as “misleading.”
“Only after the start of the works will it be possible to report on the progress, and then there will be a consequent increase in the expenditure actually incurred”, Fitto went on to add.