Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared in an interview with Bloomberg that the government's role in the world's oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), has come to an end. This declaration triggered an immediate reaction on the Milan stock exchange, where the institution's shares recorded declines. Simultaneously, the head of government criticized Donald Trump's tariff policy, calling it a mistake, and announced a fight against European environmental regulations that harm industrial competitiveness.

End of Government Oversight of MPS

Prime Minister Meloni declared the government's full withdrawal from influencing the management of the world's oldest bank, which caused declines on the stock exchange.

Criticism of US Tariff Policy

The Italian Prime Minister publicly called Donald Trump's planned import tariffs a mistake, warning of harm to trade.

Pressure on ETS and Climate

The Italian government is demanding the suspension of the CO2 emission fee system, considering it a barrier to industrial competitiveness.

Rise in Fuel Prices in Italy

The price of diesel at highway stations reached a record 2.08 euros per liter, and natural gas rose by 3.7 percent.

At the end of February 2026, the attention of European financial markets focused on Rome and Milan. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a groundbreaking declaration, announced that the process of privatization and the state's exit from the shareholding of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank has been finalized in the political dimension. The government no longer intends to influence corporate governance or the appointment of managerial positions, which is to definitively close the chapter of public life support for this institution. This information coincided with actions by the prosecutor's office in Milan, which is investigating alleged irregularities and shareholder agreements in the banking and insurance sector dating back to 2019, further burdening the financial sector's listings on Piazza Affari. In the sphere of international politics, Meloni adopted an assertive stance towards the new US administration, indicating that the trade protectionism promoted by Donald Trump is a dead end for the global economy. The Italian Prime Minister is simultaneously building a broad coalition within the European Union against the strict provisions of the Green Deal. Italy is pushing for the suspension of the ETS emissions trading system, which Minister Adolfo Urso called a harmful tax hindering business development. State interventionism in Italy's banking sector has a long tradition dating back to the post-war period, but after the eurozone debt crisis in 2011, Brussels forced strict state aid rules on Rome, making the MPS case a symbol of the difficult relationship between the government and the capital market. In commodity markets, concerning increases in energy carrier prices were recorded. Natural gas on the Dutch exchange rose by nearly 4 percent, reaching a level of 32.2 euros per megawatt-hour. An even stronger pressure is felt by drivers on Italian highways, where the price of diesel with service exceeded the barrier of 2.08 euros per liter. Italian energy diplomacy is currently trying to balance these costs by pressing in Brussels to relax environmental standards for transport and heavy industry, arguing that too rapid a pace of moving away from fossil fuels threatens the country's social and economic stability. Meanwhile, Istat data shows that despite a decline in trade volume with non-EU countries, Italy managed to generate a trade surplus exceeding 2.1 billion euros. „Il ruolo del governo in Mps è finito, nessuna influenza sulla governance” (The government's role in MPS is over, no influence on governance) — Giorgia Meloni

Mentioned People

  • Giorgia Meloni — Prime Minister of Italy, announced the end of the government's role in the MPS bank.
  • Adolfo Urso — Minister of Enterprises and 'Made in Italy', critic of the ETS system.
  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, whose tariff policy was criticized by Meloni.