"If we have more flexibility, we will be able to do more things during maneuvers." Deputy Prime Minister and FI leader Antonio Tajani said this at the Confesercenti forum underway in Piazza del Popolo, Rome. "Having obtained flexibility on energy and security, the Italian government is insisting on obtaining more flexibility in the face of soaring inflation. I am moderately optimistic, the signals arriving are not entirely negative", he continued.
"Meloni will insist on this issue at the EU Council - he added -. I also spoke about it today to the EPP family and I will reiterate it at the meeting of the heads of state and government of the EPP. Flexibility is fundamental for growth. There cannot be competitiveness if there is not a bit of flexibility. I hope that they will also listen to me at the ECB, because increasing the cost of money when inflation is exogenous and not endogenous seems to me to be a mistake: it puts the real economy in difficulty for access to credit. I hope the cost of money is not increased. It would be right if inflation were caused by internal factors, but we have nothing to do with Russia, with Hormuz, with Bab el-Mandeb".
"For us at Forza Italia the priority is the reduction of the tax burden", he underlined, indicating some of the proposals that his party "is working on", even if "since the quantum is not yet there it is difficult to make proposals".
"We are working on the further reduction of the Irpef, up to 60 thousand euros, on a no tax area for young people up to 30 or 35 years of age, on the exemption of the tax for all the first cars, including those that are company ones - he explained -. We plan to also work on the issue of healthcare: it would be right not to have the deductions in the year following the one of the expenses but in the current year. Let's see with which tool but it would be useful to help people, especially the elderly who need healthcare expenses And then we work on measures to facilitate businesses."
For Tajani "the Web giant must pay taxes like the others. No fury towards the Web giants or the United States, everyone must be guaranteed the opportunity to compete". However, he highlighted that "there are economic interests on the part of large American companies. I remember the battle on copyright in the European Parliament, to guarantee companies against unfair competition. Technology represents the future, we must not demonize it. The important thing is to give good rules so that it is at the service of everyone. It is always a question of balance. We cannot cancel traditional trade through e-commerce".
"The more shops are open in the center and on the outskirts, the safer the cities are. The craftsman is an important source of information, he can give an alarm signal if something is wrong. When the cities are dark it is easier to commit petty crime crimes", underlined Tajani, confirming his support for the Association's popular initiative law proposal on urban regeneration. "As Forza Italia we are ready to support it - he explained - and the coverage figure is recoverable. I now believe that we will talk about it for the next budget maneuver".
"As a government - he added - we have created the SEZ for southern Italy and for the regions affected by the earthquake, Marche and Umbria. We are also working for the North: it will probably be a SEZ that will break down bureaucratic barriers and will probably have zero cost. It can also be done for the Municipalities, for the bureaucratic aspects".
"We have made a rule to protect historic shops with regional registers - underlined Tajani -. Beyond the safety aspect, it means having a different attraction for tourists even in the historic centers of smaller towns. And it also applies to the suburbs: if you don't have shops near your home they just become dormitories".
On the prospects of the legislature, the deputy prime minister observed: "I believe we still have a year of work. Personally I am in favor of going to the end of the legislature and voting next autumn, hoping that nothing happens. Let's work and solve the problems".
