On NRRP more alarmism in Italy than in EU says Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 12 - There is more alarmism in relation to the EU-funded post-Covid National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) in Italy than there is in Europe, Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday.
    "I have spoken with (European Commission President Ursula) Von der Leyen," Meloni told reporters after the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
    "The Commission has said that the work with the government is ongoing and that it is bearing fruit. I see much more alarmism on the Italian side than in the EU," she said.
    On Tuesday opposition parties reiterated concerns about the government's ability to land the funding after the NRRP task force approved changes to 10 out of 27 targets related to the fourth installment of payment, worth 16 billion euros.
    Italy is still waiting for the European Commission to sign off on the 19-billion-euro third tranche, which is months overdue.
    Payments are only made on condition that all the agreed targets have been met.
    "I don't know how much this controversy from the opposition actually helps," said Meloni. "We have to remember that we are working on a plan that we did not draw up. We are doing our best and we would like to see someone lend a hand instead of scaremongering," she added.
    To date Italy has received nearly 67 billion euros in funding, but in recent months the plan has been at the centre of political tension linked to fears it will not be possible to complete all the projects and meet all the targets by the final deadline of 2026.
    On Tuesday Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein called on Premier Giorgia Meloni to report to parliament on the situation.
    "Premier Meloni should take on her responsibilities and come to parliament to explain why not even one euro of the third installment of the NRRP has yet materialized and why the fourth installment risks being delayed too," said Schlein.
    "She should remember that we are talking about resources regarding strategic investments for business, jobs and people's lives, and obtaining them is essential to get the country moving".
    The NRRP envisages in total 191.5 billion euros of funding for Italy, of which 69 billion euros in grants and 122.5 billion euros in loans.
    In exchange Italy must meet 525 objectives (milestones and targets) and introduce a series of reforms and make investments focusing on the ecological and digital transitions in particular. (ANSA).