The Council of Ministers has set the date for the anti-drill referendum: to be held on 17 April, a date that had received the green light from the Constitutional Court in January. The government thus confirmed its decision to avoid unification with the administrative elections, contrary to what the Regions, environmentalists and non-TRIV had requested, according to which the election day would have saved over 300 million euros. The referendum, initially requested by 10 regions but then confirmed only by 9 after Abruzzo opted out, will have to decide on the duration of concessions to oil companies. Technically, we are talking about the abrogation of the provision that hydrocarbon cultivation activities relating to concession measures already issued in sea areas within twelve nautical miles have a duration equal to the useful life of the field, in compliance with safety and environmental protection standards. By repealing this rule, the intentions of the promoters would bring into question the concessions already authorized in the stretch of sea within 12 miles from the coast.
"In this way - denounced the president of the Regional Council of Basilicata, Piero Lacorazza (PD) – not only is unification with the administrative authorities refused, which would save 300 million euros, but it ends up by mortifying any possibility of conscious participation of citizens in the referendum consultation, which by its nature needs a good time to know and evaluate the question that Italians are asked”.
