She told a press conference with Emilia Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini that the package offered the “first important answers to the territories affected”.
She said the decree suspends the deadline for tax and social security contribution payments in these areas until August 31.
The prime minister said energy authority ARERA had already suspended payments of utility bills in the affected areas.
She added that there was no need for the decree to suspend mortgage payments for those affected as this measure was already covered by a memorandum of understanding with Italian banking association ABI in the case of “calamitous events”.
Meloni said the package features “a one-off payment of up to €3000 for self-employed workers forced to stop working”.
She confirmed that the government had allocated €300 million in funding to this measure.
Bonaccini stressed that this package needs to be followed by further measures to aid the reconstruction effort.
“We need simplification rules for a reconstruction that is done properly, with full respect but also quickly, to restart a region that is in first place (in Italy) in terms of exports or capita,” he said.
“There are billions of euros of damage.
“There are 300 active landslides, entire forests have come down, there is the problem of the rivers, and there is the issue of roads and infrastructure.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Meloni stressed the importance of keeping up constant talks on reconstruction.
“I trust that the dialogue will remain constant even in the second phase, that of reconstruction, we will continue to do this work together,” she said in her closing speech at a meeting with the relevant ministers, Bonaccini, the mayors of the flooded municipalities and representatives of the social partners (unions and business groups).
The whole of Italy has shown great solidarity with the region, President Sergio Mattarella also said on Tuesday.
“There is a need for a remembrance of the victims and a thought for so many of our fellow citizens in distress,” he said.
“There are thousands who have had to leave their homes, who have seen them devastated by water.
“So many have suffered the devastation of their businesses.
“There is a great suffering that requires a great commitment of solidarity from the whole of Italy and that is manifesting itself in these days.
“A commitment of support and strong help for our fellow citizens.”
Mattarella was speaking as he received players and managers of Fiorentina and Inter at the Quirinale presidential palace on the eve of the Coppa Italia Italian Cup final at the Olimpico in Rome.
In other news, a total of 105 schools in Emilia Romagna have been affected by last week’s floods, the regional government said on Tuesday.
It said 49 schools had various problems getting back to teaching, 58 had transport-related issues and 44 were being used as temporary dormitories for people evacuated from their homes because of the disaster.
Around 150,000 students are affected by the flood emergency, it said.
ANSA