ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Italy is reacting better than European partners to energy recovery, but the ongoing geopolitical tensions threaten the country’s production. The Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, said this in an interview with QN, highlighting how in the first two months of war the increase of fuels in Italy was 3.7%, in front of an EU average of 12.9% and 19.8% recorded in Germany.
“We have witnessed the phenomenon, completely unpublished, of motorists who from Switzerland, France and even from Slovenia have crossed the frontier to make replenishment in our distributors,” explained Urso, claiming the effectiveness and promptness of the cut of excise duties and control measures introduced by the government. On the price front, the Minister indicated gasoline at 1,74 €/l and diesel at 2 euro, underlining that Italian inflation in March stood at 1.7%, against an EU average of 2.8%. A figure, he recalled, far from 12.6% of October 2022. However, Urso launched a strong warning about the Hormuz Strait block: “If it lasted for another two weeks, we would really be in emergency, with serious consequences on the GDP.”.
The Minister fears repercussions not only on high energy, but also on the supply of critical raw materials for industry, such as helium, aluminum and phosphates, which could blow entire supply chains. To address this situation, Italy has asked the European Commission more flexibility: “We have asked for tax margins to implement the necessary measures and the suspension of the ETS system, which we pay more than others by not having nuclear energy.”.
Urso concluded by urging immediate reforms, such as the Industrial Accelerator Act and the single energy market: “Brussels cannot continue to argue while the conflict is raging. While Rome discusses, Sagunto is expelled.”.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
