A packed room. Investors, analysts, bankers (half of whom are not Italian but English, American and German). All there, in the City, to listen to Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta behind closed doors. Domenico Siniscalco and the activist investor Davide Serra were also present at the meeting.
The Prime Minister spoke of VAT and Imu; he reiterated that he has little room for maneuver with regard to the 2013 budget but he also said that he is confident that, between 2014 and 2015, he will be able to make more decisive and incisive interventions. “The reforms are on track” Letta declared in front of the audience, reiterating the commitment on privatizations (primarily of real estate assets) which should start in the autumn. For the electoral reform, the Premier spoke of 18 months.
The priorities of the Italian government are young people and small and medium-sized enterprises. Letta confirmed his efforts to reduce costs and increase the efficiency of the public administration "which remains the heaviest in Europe". Italy must begin to attract more capital from abroad, said the Prime Minister; for this reason he spoke of the “Destinazione Italia” project.
At the end of the meeting, Letta said "goodbye" because he assured that he will return to visit London in the autumn.