League turns on its own government: “Risk of wasting NRRP funds”

Brussels – Doubts and concerns about the reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), including a formal inquiry into the government’s actions submitted by… one of the governing majority parties. Tensions between the League and the rest of the coalition are likely to reach Brussels, given that Susanna Ceccardi (League/PfE) is pointing the finger at a construction site authorised under the Italy 5G Plan, financed by the NRRP, which is set to expire at the end of August this year. 

Specifically, questions are being raised about the project awarded to Inwit S.p.A. on behalf of Vodafone S.p.A. to build a telecom tower next to a church. Ceccardi disputes the fact that the tower will be “a few hundred metres away from a 30-metre tower belonging to Toscana Radio Comunicazioni S.r.l that is already on the National Federated Information System for Infrastructures’ database, is configured for 5G and possesses the requisite underground fibre optic cables,” and therefore building a new facility would be unnecessary, as well as contrary to the rules. “The NRRP’s own rules state that existing infrastructure must be used in order to avoid wasting public funds,” the League MEP points out.

According to the League MEP, there is a risk of “waste of NRRP funding” and a “breach of the rules governing the ‘Italy 5G’ plan.” Raising this doubt certainly does not make the Italian government look good, as it is primarily responsible for implementing the national plan and using the Recovery Fund resources. At the same time, it highlights Italy’s ability to exercise control. It also highlights that, within the FdI-Fi-League majority, the League ally is contesting its allies’ actions, demonstrating problems of cohesion and unity.

The response provided by Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto (who was responsible for the NRRP as a minister in Italy) seems to confirm the mismanagement of an entirely Italian problem. “Member States’
authorities are responsible for the selection of the projects financed under the RRF and are
primarily responsible for ensuring the compliance of the projects undertaken in the context of
their national RRP with national and EU law.” In short, if something doesn’t add up, it’s because those who were supposed to oversee things didn’t do so. It’s the government that comes out looking bad.