Italy: Giorgia Meloni's Government Finalizes Work on Decree to Lower Energy Prices

The Italian Council of Ministers is proceeding to finalize work on the long-awaited energy decree, which is intended to be a response to the high cost of living and doing business. The central point of the new regulations is the pursuit of a real reduction in gas and electricity bills, which according to estimates will cost the budget from 2.5 to 3 billion euros. The project is the responsibility of Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, the Minister of Environment and Energy Security, who along with advisors from Palazzo Chigi worked until the last minute to remove technical discrepancies. A key contentious element remains the issue of ETS fees, which the government would like to partially neutralize to minimize their impact on final prices for end consumers. The government's intervention, however, is eliciting mixed reactions. On one hand, Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani emphasizes that the priority is to protect citizens, while on the other hand, producers of energy from renewable sources and some regions, including Lombardy, express concerns regarding new settlement mechanisms and concessions. Concessions have become a flashpoint for discussion between central and local authorities, forcing additional consultations on the Rome-Milan line. An additional challenge is the necessity to obtain approval from the European Commission for some of the proposed tax reliefs and exemptions from emission fees. Since the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Italy has been intensively seeking ways to diversify energy sources and become independent from the import of fossil fuels.Despite technical difficulties, the government's determination is high. The new regulations are intended not only to lower current bills but also to introduce bonuses for people with the lowest incomes. These changes are part of a broader economic strategy that assumes maintaining the competitiveness of Italian industry while preserving the budgetary discipline imposed by EU treaties. The final shape of the document depends on the results of negotiations with gas sector lobbyists and the final interpretation of state aid rules by officials in Brussels. „Our priority is to lower energy costs for both citizens and companies, to strengthen our economy.” — Antonio Tajani3 mld euro — are the estimated savings for Italian consumersGłówne założenia nowego dekretu: Wsparcie dla najuboższych: Ograniczone tarcze okresowe → Stałym bonus energetyczny; Opłaty ETS: Pełne przeniesienie na konsumenta → Proponowana częściowa sterylizacja; Koszty transportu gazu: Wysokie opłaty systemowe → Redukcja onerów regulacyjnychMedia liberalne podkreślają ryzyko naruszeń unijnych zasad pomocy publicznej i krytykują ustępstwa wobec lobby paliw kopalnych. | Media konserwatywne akcentują troskę rządu o portfele rodzin i walkę z biurokracją narzucaną przez Brukselę.