The development decree "has large and small measures" for competitiveness. Of course, on some points we need to intervene better (as in innovation and research), the resources are not many but "month after month" the plan will be completed. And in any case, the government's action prevented the arrival of commissioners for Italy. Thus the Minister of Economic Development, Corrado Passera, illustrating the guidelines of the Development decree to the Finance and Productive Activities commissions of Montecitorio, which includes interventions for the revitalization of infrastructure, construction and transport, measures for the digital agenda and transparency in the public administration, the reorganization of incentives for businesses and funding for research, the support of sporting practice and tourism.
Competitiveness – The decree "is part of the line of activities of the sustainable growth agenda", explains Passera, "collected in a series of measures, large and small, but all of which fill the general scheme" to act on "competitiveness" of companies and the country. It's “a plan that is completed month after month. Inside there is the contribution of all government ministries because ”, he underlines, “when you want to achieve long-term structural growth, everyone contributes ”. Passera claims credit for the Executive: "Let's not forget that our country already had its commissioners packed. We avoided it. Thanks to what we have done together with the parliament, our country is able to promote growth". Of course, he does not hide that the decree "doesn't have many new resources" to be allocated "but he tries to make the best use of those available and to activate investments by private individuals as much as possible". It will be necessary to identify mechanisms to make the best use of old, but perhaps also new, tools to deal with a new occupational problem that has arisen” the Minister points out with reference to the increasingly widespread phenomenon of workers who lose their jobs in old age.
Simplifications – The development decree will introduce “a mechanism whereby the magistrate can apply a filter to the appeal where he recognizes that there are not sufficient reasons for appealing the first instance sentence”. A measure, explains Passera, developed "in agreement with the Minister of Justice" for the streamlining of civil justice.
Innovation – It is one of the points on which better action needs to be taken. "That of innovation and incentives for research remains an area to be covered better", acknowledges the Minister for Economic Development, ". We have to do it when we have the additional funds”. "A measure has already been prepared to introduce a tax credit for those who invest in innovation and research". And the resources available for this purpose are quantifiable between 700 and 1000 million a year.
Manufacturing – “There is no doubt that some of our companies have made choices that do not reward our country”, points out Passera, “. We do so where we can intervene, but in many cases we are talking about choices made by private companies”. Passera points out that "the state, the public, must dedicate themselves to horizontal interventions", from internationalization to infrastructures, "rather than entering into the choices of individual private companies. This does not mean that we are seeing sector by sector" to evaluate "any interventions". “There is no doubt that there are international or multinational companies that decide to leave Italy for the most diverse reasons”, but sometimes it is also Europe that moves towards Asia.
Passera's hearing before the Finance and Productive Activities commissions was an opportunity for the Minister to address other issues as well, also in the wake of the clarifications requested by the deputies.
Finmeccanica and Irisbus – According to Passera, non-strategic sectors for the Finmeccanica group, such as the railway sector, must in any case be safeguarded at the country level. "There are sectors of Finmeccanica's activity which do not fall within the strategic sectors, but where Italy must do everything possible to keep the activity within it". As for Irisbus, for the relaunch of the Fiat group company that produces buses "there would be ideas, there is a lack of resources". To give incentives, resources are needed and European rules must be respected”.
Rates – Their blockade is a "non-solution": it postpones problems and takes away Italy's credibility because it implies non-compliance with contracts. Says Passera: "Freezing tariffs only means postponing problems at best", and "it would mean taking away credibility because contracts are not respected" and "perhaps not reducing tariffs where possible".
First house – Less costs for the purchase of the first home, if it will be possible to find resources. In fact, the possibility of “purchasing a first home without transaction costs” is being studied. "Between not charging Imu to those who have unsold items or reducing costs to zero on transactions perhaps below a certain amount or on first homes, it seemed more logical to us to find solutions on the demand side" of housing. This "is not yet a proposal but if we manage to set aside some resources this is one of the things we have decided to do".
