It has barely elapsed since the recent general elections in Italy, which placed a sharper spotlight on the far right. Giorgia Meloni led the way as the country welcomed encouraging news from Brussels: a second tranche of the Next Generation EU package capable of rejuvenating Europe’s economy. The plan earmarks 10,000 million in non-refundable grants and 11,000 million in low‑cost loans. The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, stated that Italy had made enough progress in implementing the bailout strategy to qualify for this second payment.
The payment request, submitted by the caretaker government under Mario Draghi on 28 June, required Italy to meet 45 milestones across key reforms. These areas include public employment and the broader public administration overhaul, improvements to the public procurement system, education, and regional health services. The package also finances investments in broadband and 5G, research and innovation, tourism and culture, hydrogen, urban renewal, and the digitization of schools. A crucial element was reforming the judiciary to shorten backlogs and speed up justice delivery.
positive evaluation
Following a rigorous assessment, Brussels confirmed compliance and forwarded a positive appraisal to the Economic and Financial Committee, which will have one month to finalize its review. If the committee signs off, the Commission can grant final approval. Italy remains the largest beneficiary of the Next Generation programme, with a total allocation of 191.6 billion euros, including 69.0 billion in non-refundable aid and 122.6 billion in credits.
One official noted that this represents a unique opportunity for Italy to build a more competitive and sustainable economy while pursuing a fairer society. The message urged the next Italian administration to seize the opportunity fully. Delivering the remaining commitments is essential to drive structural change and place the Italian economy on a path of robust and sustainable growth, according to Paolo Gentiloni, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs. (Source attribution: European Commission)