The signature of the Quirinale on the Agriculture decree of Minister Francesco Lollobrigida has not yet arrived. The first to reveal it is The paper, according to which the Colle’s legislative offices had detected three inconsistencies in the text of the provision. The first concerns the merger of the National Information System for the Development of Agriculture (Sin) company into the Agency for Agricultural Payments (Agea). According to the Quirinale, there are no requirements for the emergency decree. The second issue that has raised doubts among the Colle technicians is the movement of a carabinieri corps from the Ministry of the Environment to that of Agriculture. Finally, President Sergio Mattarella’s staff would have detected inconsistencies in some steps regarding the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.
Interlocution with the ministry
Sources at the Quirinale have confirmed a Open that the technical offices have detected some inconsistencies, but – they specify – this is a rather common fact. It should also be considered that a definitive text of the provision has not yet been reached, which means that the dossier has not yet landed on Mattarella’s desk. The decree was approved by the Council of Ministers on Monday 6 May, but it still takes some time before the final version is reached. The inconsistencies detected so far by the Quirinale are based more than anything else on what was announced by ministers Lollobrigida and Pichetto Fratin in the press conference. In any case, dal Colle specifies, a dialogue is underway between the technical offices of the Quirinale and those of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The controversy over solar panels
The decree approved in recent days by the Council of Ministers first of all provides for a new round of aid to the agricultural sector. However, the original version of the measure also contained a ban on the installation of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. A measure requested on several occasions by Coldiretti, but deemed unacceptable by companies dealing with renewables, if only because it hinders Italy’s path towards the production of clean energy. In the days following this indiscretion, a discussion began between Lollobrigida and Pichetto Fratin, who finally found an agreement on some exceptions to be included in the provision.
Cover photo: The Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, during Question Time in the Senate on 9 May (ANSA/Fabio Cimaglia)
