The cuts of the maneuver do not affect the Middle Ages

There is a crisis, but not for medieval research institutions, among the few not to suffer cuts and perhaps even the only ones to receive funding, however conspicuous. In fact, after having launched the corrective maneuver made up of taxes, cuts and suppressions, the Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday examined a bill - already approved in the Chamber - for the "Concession of contributions for the financing of research on the history and culture of the Italian and European Middle Ages".
That's right: with a specific measure, more than 2 million euros are to be allocated to four institutes. It starts with article 1 of the provision which provides for "an annual contribution of 600.000 euros starting from 2012" for the International Society for the Study of the Latin Middle Ages (Sismel) of Florence, and "an annual contribution of 450.000 euros" again to starting from 2012 for the Ezio Franceschini foundation in Florence (which boasts "a staff of 4 employees", as stated on the foundation's website). Money disbursed by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage on condition that the institutes send the ministry, "by 30 April of the year following the reference year", a report on the use of the contributions themselves.
Under the same conditions, starting from 500.000, 2012 thousand euros will then be allocated to the Italian Historical Institute for the Middle Ages (Isime) in Rome, and 450.000 thousand euros a year to the foundation of the Italian Center for Early Middle Ages Studies in Spoleto (Perugia). But it doesn't end here, because in times of lean, with the need for cuts and the elimination of useless or expensive entities, it is intended to establish from scratch the National Edition of Media-Latin texts of Italy (ENTMI), a body to all intents and purposes with a lot of president, vice president, secretary treasurer and the scientific commission, whose members (how many there are the bill does not say) remain in office for six years.
The Entmi "succeeds, in all active and passive relationships, the National Edition of Middle Latin texts, established by decree of the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities on 16 January 2001". An annual contribution of 70.000 euros a year would go to the Entmi. This project, the lawmakers write, would be financed "under the 'Reserve and special funds' program of the 'Funds to be distributed' mission of the Ministry of Economy's estimates for the year 2011, for the purpose partially using the provision relating to the same ministry".