Before the decisive Eurogroup, President Mattarella has called for more solidarity between European partners and to put aside national egoisms and privileges of any kind. On the same tone it has been the letter sent to Ursula Von der Leyen by European Parliament President David Sassoli and co-signed by France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain parliaments’ Presidents. Meanwhile, the Eurogroup has not yet concluded, after a first round until 19, the second round is scheduled at 23, expecting an all night long discussions. According to Centeno pre-meeting declarations, the discussion will be on the most graded and ambitious package of measures ever prepared by the Eurogroup. As per our sources, the Eurogroup still has discussed only about the French proposal of a Recovery Fund, the EIB, Sure and the ESM. According to circulating drafts, the coronabonds have not been mentioned and they are not in the agenda. Meanwhile, EU Commission is preparing the lockdown exit plan - to be announced tomorrow, aiming at avoiding a chaotic array of national measures.
Concerning the Liquidity Decree, a topic is the current role of SACE . Around its governance it is consuming a low-intensity warfare between the Five Stars and the Democrats. The Five Stars, and firstly Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio, advocates for SACE remaining under control of the CDP , while Minister Gualtieri and the Director of the Treasury have pushed to divert SACE under the control and address of the Minister of Economy. Moreover, as per rumours, the Ministry of the Economy is evaluating the idea to be among SACE's shareholders, now fully controlled by the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.
Meanwhile, the frictions between Lombardy Region and the Central Government highlight on the competences on healthcare system management, an issue of utmost political importance especially for the then-federalist Salvini’s League. Attilio Fontana, Lombardy’s Governor, stresses the Government’s blindsight not to do the lockdown of Nembro and Alzano Lombardo, two small cities from which the COVID-19 has started its devastating spreading in Lombardy. On the contrary, PM Conte answered that Fontana could have ordered autonomously a lockdown on the cities. Professor Cassese, one of the top-notch experts in Constitutional matters, had plainly advocated for a return of the healthcare under the Central Government’s management, angering Northern Governors Luca Zaia and Attilio Fontana.
In the parliamentary floor, tomorrow afternoon the “Cura Italia” decree law will arrive to Assembly of Senate, where the general discussion will last 7 hours. It is expected on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Responsible Budget Commission is currently working to end the examination and votes on amendments to the text.
