The vast program seeks to make the Italian economy greener and more modern via projects funded with the help of around €191 billion in EU grants and low-interest loans.
The Commission said the revised plan featured the addition of a €2.76-billion REPowerEU chapter to help end Italy’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition.
The government has shifted around €16 billion worth of EU funding from some projects that risked not being completed by the deadline of 2026 and diverted them to others, to avoid the danger of Italy losing out on the money completely.
European Affairs Minister Raffaelle Fitto has said the projects that have had NRRP cash taken away will be funded via other mechanisms, such as European cohesion funds.
The changes the government enabled the European Commission last month to approve the long-delayed third tranche of the NRRP funding worth €18.5 billion.
“Italy has proposed to revise 144 investments and reforms related to the six thematic areas of the plan (the so-called ‘missions’),” the Commission said.
“They concern digitalisation and competitiveness, the ecological transition, sustainable mobility, education and research, inclusion and cohesion, and health.
“Italy’s request to modify its plan is primarily based on the need to factor in recent global headwinds such as high inflation and supply chain constraints”.
The Commission said it will now assess whether the modified plan still fulfils the assessment criteria.
ANSA
