Meloni says AI governance is urgent and defends Italy's 60 billion euro energy spending

Energy costs take centre stage

Giorgia Meloni addressed the general assembly of Assolombarda, the Milan business association, on 12 October, devoting much of her speech to energy costs. She said the government had allocated over 60 billion euros in recent years to protect Italians from rising energy prices, without giving a specific period for that spending. The measures she listed include reduced energy bill charges, the removal of the gap between Italian and European gas prices, and two tools, the gas release and the energy release, which let companies buy gas and electricity at capped prices backed by a state guarantee. When tensions in the Middle East and along Gulf shipping routes pushed up fuel prices, she said the government cut excise duties, introduced a mobile excise mechanism and abolished the car tax on the vehicles most used by families and in cities. Meloni also said she had appealed to the main energy companies to contain prices, and that several had responded positively. She described these steps as emergency management and said structural answers are needed, pointing to a near 40% rise in installed renewable capacity.

No engine runs without fuel.

In the same speech she called energy the precondition that holds everything together and the chapter with the greatest effect on the competitiveness of Italian firms.

Gas price talks with Brussels

Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that Meloni said the government is working with the European Commission on a mechanism to contain the price of gas used to produce electricity, and that the talks are at an advanced stage. The decree on energy bills, converted into law in April, was meant to guarantee 5 billion euros of savings for households and businesses, but according to Il Fatto Quotidiano it remains stalled because of negotiations with the EU. Rai News described open talks with Brussels aimed at reducing gas costs linked to electricity prices. Her remarks came only a few hours before the European Council, which Rai News said was a chance for her to press Italy's weight among the 27 member states.

Italy does not sit at the European table to always say yes.

Meloni went on to say that Italy sits at the table to say what needs saying when it needs saying, even when that is uncomfortable or costly. She framed this as a way of making Europe stronger rather than weaker.

Artificial intelligence and the G7 agenda

ANSA reported that Meloni said AI governance is urgent but must be tackled at global level. She said Italy had placed the issue at the centre of its G7 presidency by calling on Pope Francis to speak about it, and that Italy was watching with interest all initiatives moving in that direction. AGI quoted her on the take-up of the technology among businesses, with Assolombarda firms moving from 21% to 49% active AI projects in less than two years. Her remarks on the spread of AI into daily life and production were carried in the same reporting, and AGI headlined her position as businesses being open to innovation while the state provides a framework of rules.

Industry, budget and growth

Assolombarda covers over 7,000 companies and about 450,000 employees, which Meloni said generate 12% of Italian value added. AGI headlined her assessment as weak growth but an Italy that holds up, and she said the country should invest in innovation and human capital. Il Fatto Quotidiano reported her promise to include in the budget law a fiscal measure to encourage investment in software used through cloud contracts. Tgcom24 reported that industrialists asked for further investment support such as hyper-depreciation, which they said had worked, along with nuclear power and measures to stimulate innovation, and that Meloni is looking ahead to the upcoming budget law. Il Fatto Quotidiano also noted the criticism of EU emissions quotas and that the ex Ilva steelworks in Taranto was shutting down as she spoke.

An industry that wants to create certainly needs will, but it also needs a state that accompanies it.

The budget law and the EU gas talks are the next steps she pointed to for business policy.