Tomorrow, Antonio Tajani will be in Sardinia to participate in Forza Italia’s regional congress. In this interview, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs will discuss about the international situation, ongoing conflicts, and the measures the Government plans to take to avert the risk of recession.
Minister Tajani, perhaps this time we could be closer to an agreement between the US and Iran, Trump has announced that he is ruling out further attacks. But Hormuz will certainly not be cleared soon. The impact of this traffic disruption on European economies could be long-lasting. The Government has extended the measures relating to excise duties. That’ll be enough, but until when?
“All too often we have deluded ourselves into thinking that peace in the Gulf was within our grasp. But I want to be optimistic: I hope that the agreement between the US and Iran is truly reached and will last over time. We will only be able to make a political assessment in a few days’ time. But in the meantime, the Italian Government must continue to intervene on the negative economic impact of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Of course, the necessary ‘buffers’ can only provide temporary relief from the economic burden of this disastrous war. However, the Government has managed to hold constructive and successful talks with the EU, which will provide us with EUR 15 billion over three years for investment in renewables and energy in general – a move that will free up further resources. Europe’s openness is a positive thing: it confirms that, whilst Europe may sometimes follow its own rather enigmatic paths, it is not an enemy, nor is it hostile. Europe is a lifeline for the national states, it is a powerful source of support. We need to be aware of and comply with the rules, and engage in dialogue with Brussels”.
In Ukraine, peace, and even a ceasefire, still seem a long way off. The three Ambassadors from France, Germany and the United Kingdom were received yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, where they attempted to initiate negotiations. Is that a credible move? The Russians have already criticised their offers. Is not Italy annoyed by this arrangement in which three countries seem to want to lead Europe?
“Peace may still be a long way off, but things on the ground have been changing over the past few weeks. Ukraine has not only demonstrated incredible military resilience, but has also been able to disrupt Moscow’s military plans by striking from a distance. The path of negotiation must be pursued with realism and intelligence. The E3 initiative is a first step, but it is not enough and will certainly need to be extended to other European countries. A more effective format in my opinion is the E5, also with Poland and Italy offering the point of view of a decisive country in Eastern Europe and one on the southern front. The European Union must also be fully involved, and the EU Commission and the Presidency of the European Council are also included in the E5 format. The key is to work out how to bring President Putin to the negotiating table, and how to spot signs of weakness in Russia in order to persuade it to abandon its stubborn and violent course”.
In recent days the bank risk has reactivated, with the move by Intesa/Unipol regarding MPS. How do you feel about such a massive operation in terms of effort and consequences?
“The renewed strength of Italian banks and their financial ‘health’ has meant that, in recent years, politicians have increasingly refrained from interfering in their activities. I have always believed that the state should lay down the rules, but it should not also take the field to play the game, with one or the other team. Banca Intesa’s action will strengthen the stability of the Italian banking system, just as the actions of other European banks can help to do the same. For politicians and the Government, there is just one objective: to ensure that businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, have quick and secure access to credit. That is why I support large banking groups, but I also support small banks, the local ones that help small and micro-enterprises as well”.
Here we are in Sardinia. Manufacturing and exporting costs Sardinian companies a higher percentage of their turnover than their competitors in northern Italy. What specific measures does your party intend to implement to close this initial gap?
“To view insularity merely as a matter of airfares is a fundamental error of perspective. The real issue is business competitiveness. When it comes to goods, the solution is not a blanket subsidy, but the establishment of a Single Special Economic Zone for Insular Regions, which would provide for the full tax treatment of additional transport costs. We must apply the European principle of territorial continuity for goods, following the example of Corsica or the Spanish islands, where the State compensates shipping companies directly to bring the cost per kilometre/container into line with that of transport on the mainland”.
The other issue linked to transport is that of energy. We don’t have natural gas yet. The debate over renewables is heated, to say the least. What is the balance?
“The fact that the natural gas supply has not arrived must be turned from a disadvantage into an opportunity. Sardinia must not cling to the old fossil-fuel model, but instead become a hub for the energy transition, with a plan to directly reduce excise duties and system charges on energy bills for Sardinian residents and businesses, as partial environmental compensation for the burdens the island already bears. But there needs to be a balance between legitimate transition and speculation imposed from above. We need planning and joint decision-making. The ecological transition cannot be achieved at the expense of local communities, let alone at the expense of the island’s history and identity. The State must set the decarbonisation targets, but the Region must have the final say on which areas are suitable and which are not. And we must introduce the principle of energy sovereignty: if Sardinia produces more energy than it consumes and supplies the rest of the country, a fixed share of that wealth must remain in Sardinia in the form of ‘zero-cost energy bills’ for households and funding for municipal energy communities”.
The island is experiencing a severe demographic decline, which is particularly pronounced in inland areas. The Government often uses national algorithms to close offices because ‘the numbers don’t add up’. Don’t you think that the concept of insularity, now enshrined in the Constitution, should justify an exception to these criteria?
“The inclusion of insularity in the Constitution can not and must not remain merely a political statement, but must be treated as a budgetary consideration. My proposal is to introduce the ‘Statute for small Municipalities and Island territories’. We must reverse the approach: the minimum standard for essential services should not be based on population density but on the distance in terms of travel time from major centres. Italy is one and indivisible; civil rights do not depend on the postcode of one’s birth or residence”.
The recent arrival of hundreds of Israeli families on holiday in Sardinia has sparked controversy. President Todde criticised the government for its “silence”. How about that?
“When it comes to a sensitive issue such as national security and public order, the first rule must be to take the matter seriously, not to resort to propaganda. We are talking about scheduled and charter flights carrying individuals and families who have chosen of their own accord to holiday in Sardinia, not about military operations or secret agreements. When there are significant tourist flows, the State’s security apparatus is automatically activated to ensure the utmost protection for everyone: Sardinian citizens, passengers and accommodation providers. Portraying families on holiday or reservists on leave as a diplomatic incident or a fictional occupation is a distorted narrative that damages Sardinia’s reputation for hospitality.
The Council of Ministers has approved a development project by a Brazilian group in Cala Finanza. Is this a one-off project, or should urban planning and landscape design be joint planned once again?
“The Cala Finanza affair should not be seen as an ideological standoff between Rome and Cagliari, but as a matter of legal certainty and international appeal. The Council of Ministers’ intervention is not a blow against Sardinian autonomy, but rather the unblocking of a complex administrative process that risked leading to yet another stalemate in a high-profile foreign investment project. Joint planning between the State and the Region on landscape matters is an inviolable principle. No one wants to strip the Region of its powers. But joint planning means ‘planning together’, not imposing unilateral vetoes”.
In the recent local elections, Forza Italia saw an increase in support in politically significant cities.
“The results of the latest local elections in Sardinia tell us one thing very clearly: Forza Italia is enjoying a period of remarkable success on the island, gaining support and cementing its position as a key pillar of the centre-right. This result is down to the strong local roots of our administrators, and the leadership and political coordination provided by Pietro Pittalis and all the managers. Ever since the days of Silvio Berlusconi, Forza Italia has maintained a history of deep affection, respect and a strong sense of identity with Sardinia”.
