"When it comes to nuclear and renewables, we are being taken for granted," stated Confindustria President Emanuele Orsini following his system mission to Argentina and Brazil, placing energy back at the core of the industrial agenda. Highlighting 130 gigawatts ready to be deployed and roughly 20 billion euros in potential investments akin to a new Pnrr, Orsini criticized ongoing delays driven by complex authorizations, vetoes, and territorial conflicts. He stressed that businesses need certainty, warning that structurally higher energy bills compared to European competitors render current industrial policies unsustainable, with some firms forced into debt just to pay utility costs.
To break this gridlock, Orsini proposed appointing a dedicated commissioner to fast-track permits and bypass local roadblocks, noting that short-term fuel tax cuts offer mere temporary relief rather than true energy autonomy. Shifting to broader economic matters, he emphasized the vital strategic importance of keeping the ex-Ilva steel plant operational on competitive market terms. On financial stability, Orsini welcomed market-driven support for domestic assets while expressing concern over foreign control of major national savings pools like Generali, advocating instead for a long-term strategic vision rooted in Italy. Finally, he cautioned that the European Central Bank’s aggressive interest rate hikes risk stifling essential enterprise investments during a fragile economic climate.