“The Government intends to abolish the Provinces, but this does not solve the problem of the functions of a vast area. The problem of the elective methods and the unification of functions remains". This was stated by the Minister of Regional Affairs, Graziano Delrio, before the Senate Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
“I trust in joint work for a better organization at the provincial level – continued Delrio -. The Government intends to eliminate the intermediate level, overcoming the uncertainty that has arisen in the last year and a half. I trust that we can quickly arrive at a new organization at the provincial level, which allows municipalities and regions to be at the centre, as well as considerable cost savings, not only due to the abolition itself, but also due to the synergies between different levels of government.
The minister guaranteed that by the end of the year the Government will implement new measures to loosen the domestic stability pact. The goal is “to increase the maneuvering capacity of local authorities, especially small municipalities. The cuts have caused a heavy contraction in investments”.
A first step in this direction was taken “with the agreement reached with the Regions and local bodies on the decree on payments by the Public Administration, capable of guaranteeing a 50% reduction of the negative effects of the stability pact on small Municipalities. The Government - concluded Delrio - undertakes to review these rules of the pact, in particular on the safety of the territory and school buildings".
