"I am surprised" by an "incomprehensible" decision by Brussels. Thus the Minister of Economy, Pier Carlo Padoan, commented on the opening of a European infringement procedure against Italy for the delays in paying the debts of the public administration.
“I am frankly surprised about this infringement procedure that Tajani had already announced to us before the elections – said the number one of the Treasury -. If there is one thing the Government has done, it is to give a decisive push, in accordance with what Europe has asked for. This also resulted in tax and debt costs, so we were doubly disciplined. So I think this procedure is incomprehensible."
However, the European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Italy for violating Directive 2011/7 which requires the payment of public administration debts to businesses within a period of 30 days (60 in some exceptional cases).
From Brussels they underline that, according to the 2013 annual report of Bank of Italy dated May 30, 2014, the Italian PA today pays its invoices on average within no less than 180 days, which rise to 210 in the public works sector. Italy is therefore the worst payer in Europe, while Greece is in second place, with 155 days.
Finally, according to the EU, the Italian legislation still leaves too much discretion for the public administration in defining the state of progress of the works, an essential step for the company to then be able to issue invoices.
