"Hopes for a strong recovery are fading and faced with this, a European response is needed: on the economic level, on the defense level, on the energy level”. The prime minister said, Mario Draghi, speaking on Wednesday in the Chamber in view of the imminent European Council.
“We need a joint response – added Draghi – there was in the case of the Next generation Eu: it was a fundamental experience for the European Union, because for the first time we saw how joint economic power can be mobilised and it was crucial to be able to emerge from the pandemic, with a recovery that in the case of Italy was extraordinary. So much so that if we manage to make a positive growth number this year, it will largely be due to the drag on of the extraordinary growth we had last year”.
Draghi: "There is no need to rethink the Pnrr"
Despite the new difficulties posed by the war in Ukraine, Draghi maintains that there is no need for “an afterthought of the Pnrr in its deadlines and objectives. This plan is crucial to ramp up our growth permanently beyond the events that affect us and continue to affect us on a regular basis."
However, the Prime Minister underlined again, "there are some things, some aspects of the Pnrr that need to be addressed. For example: what is the effect of the increase in raw material prices and costs in general on the Pnrr? A reflection is underway within the European Commission and we will certainly have an answer shortly”.
Energy: "We need an energetic European response". Sanctions: “We can do more”
On energy dossiers, "I hope that the European Council will take ambitious decisions that can be rapidly operational", continued Draghi.
With regard to sanctions on Russia, "At the beginning Europe was very cautious in designing the sanctions, especially the most affected countries - said the Premier - But this was only at the beginning, then we realized what kind of catastrophe was being created and there were no more hesitations. We went straight and did a lot. Can we do more? Sure that we can do more and we will. We need to define when and how. And this is another of the topics that must be discussed in the coming days, including at the next EU Council. Europe did what it could do, there were no disagreements in deciding the policy to pursue”.
