Rome Times

Pope Francis Appoints New Vatican Economy Council Members in Finance Modernisation Push

Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Repole and two female professionals under the age of 40 to the Vatican Council for the Economy, continuing efforts to broaden and modernise financial governance within the Holy See.

Giuseppe Conte Uses Anti-Fascist Message to Strengthen Five Star Movement Position

Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is placing anti-fascist rhetoric at the centre of his political strategy as he seeks to strengthen his leadership of the Five Star Movement and consolidate support ahead of upcoming electoral tests.

Emergency Equipment Law for Sports Venues Stalls Over €5 Million Funding Gap

Parliament has yet to complete implementation of legislation requiring advanced emergency medical equipment at professional sports facilities because of a €5 million funding shortfall, frustrating athletes and safety advocates.

Dariya Derkach Wins Triple Jump Gold as Italy Celebrates International Athletics Success

Italian athlete Dariya Derkach has won gold in the women's triple jump, giving Italy another major success in international athletics and strengthening the country's recent competitive momentum.

Italian Drivers Face Fuel Prices Above €2 a Litre During August Holiday Exodus

Petrol and diesel prices at some Italian motorway service stations have risen above €2 a litre during the peak summer travel period, prompting consumer groups to complain about an estimated €370 million burden on households.

Banco Desio Signals Interest in Further Acquisitions as Italian Banking Consolidation Continues

Banco Desio's management says the lender is prepared to pursue additional domestic acquisitions as consolidation accelerates across Italy's banking sector and mid-sized institutions seek greater scale.

Workplace Deaths in Sicily Renew Calls for Stronger Safety Enforcement

The deaths of a worker and an emergency responder in San Vito Lo Capo have triggered public anger and demands from labour unions for immediate government action to improve workplace safety in Sicily.

Teenager's Fatal Stabbing in Apulia Reignites Debate Over Youth Violence

The fatal stabbing of an eighteen-year-old during a confrontation in the coastal city of Trani has prompted renewed calls from southern Italian mayors for greater police presence and stronger public safety measures.

Italy Targets University Investment to Retain Academic Talent and Support Innovation

University Minister Anna Maria Bernini has pledged targeted investment in higher education to help retain academic talent, reduce brain drain and strengthen Italy's capacity for research and innovation.

Serie A and Regulators Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Football Streaming

Italian football authorities and telecommunications regulators have stepped up efforts against major illegal streaming operations, including the Albanian application Tring, as they seek to protect domestic broadcasting revenues from piracy.

Explosion at Colleferro Munitions Plant Prompts Industrial Safety Investigation

An explosion at the former Simmel Difesa military manufacturing facility in Colleferro, Lazio, has triggered regulatory investigations, while unions and environmental groups are calling for tighter oversight of ageing industrial sites.

Italy's Aviation Sector Faces Higher Ticket Costs as European Airline Consolidation Accelerates

Italian aviation authorities and market analysts are monitoring a wave of airline acquisitions across Europe, warning that reduced competition could eventually push higher operating costs onto passengers after years of ultra-low-cost tra...

Italian Authorities Warn of Record Credit, Loan and Mortgage Fraud

Italian financial police and consumer protection agencies have issued warnings after more than 38,000 cases of credit, loan and mortgage fraud were recorded, with vulnerable households facing growing exposure to sophisticated financial s...

Italian Government Housing Plan Faces Criticism Over Limited Support for Regional Markets

Italy's new national housing programme is facing criticism from regional authorities and industry experts who argue that its financial incentives are insufficient to stimulate construction or help buyers in medium-sized and smaller cities.

Rome and Berlin Seek Agreement After Germany Suspends Some Migrant Returns to Italy

Italy is negotiating with Germany after Berlin halted the return of some asylum seekers to Italy, with Rome seeking to prevent the dispute from developing into a wider European Union disagreement over responsibility for migrants.

Northern Italy Faces Severe Drought, Wildfires and Falling Oxygen Levels in Lake Maggiore

Severe summer drought has reduced water levels across northern Italy while contributing to major wildfires in the Ossola valley and critically low oxygen levels in Lake Maggiore, raising concerns about damage to regional ecosystems.

Italy Extends Border Controls With Slovenia and Spain Over Security Concerns

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Italy will keep border checks with Slovenia and Spain in place beyond the mid-August holiday period, citing continuing security concerns, unauthorized migration flows and the need to reassess cond...

Strait of Messina Bridge Requires Design Changes After New Risk Assessments

Italy's planned bridge linking Sicily and Calabria requires significant design revisions after technical reviews identified unresolved geological and seismic risks as well as the need to update anti-terrorism measures.

UniCredit Moves Closer to Regulatory Clearance for Commerzbank Expansion

European banking regulators in Frankfurt are moving toward clearing UniCredit's planned initiatives involving Germany's Commerzbank, potentially allowing the Milan-based lender to advance a major cross-border consolidation strategy.

Italian Companies Complete €17.8 Billion of Acquisitions in Germany

Italian industrial groups, financial institutions and transport companies have completed more than 100 acquisitions in Germany worth about €17.8 billion, highlighting the growing cross-border reach of Italy's corporate sector.

Italy's July Inflation Revised Higher as Rising Energy Costs Pressure Households

Istat has revised Italy's July inflation rate to 2.89 percent, with higher fuel costs and wholesale electricity prices reaching €197 per megawatt-hour adding pressure to household purchasing power and raising concerns about the autumn ec...

Italy Prepares Autumn Budget With Income Tax Cuts and Expanded Social Support

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government is preparing an autumn budget focused on personal income tax reductions, public-sector contract renewals and an expanded social card system, while seeking to remain within European Union fiscal ...

Sustainable Gastronomy Helps Revive Rural Economies in Calabria

Rural communities in Calabria are using the international Slow Food movement to attract premium agritourism and support artisanal agriculture, helping some municipalities address population decline through higher-value food and tourism a...

CDP Receives Top Global Sustainability Rating Among Financial Institutions

Morningstar Sustainalytics has awarded Cassa Depositi e Prestiti its highest global environmental, social and governance rating among financial institutions, citing the integration of climate and social criteria into its public investmen...

Italy Raises Volcanic Safety Warnings as Tourists Approach Mount Etna Lava Flows

Civil protection authorities have increased volcanic safety warnings after visitors repeatedly approached active lava flows on Mount Etna to take photographs, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of rules governing access to high-alt...

Extreme Heat Threatens Cheese Stocks Used as Bank Collateral in Emilia-Romagna

Rising summer temperatures are forcing Parmigiano Reggiano producers in Emilia-Romagna to improve climate control in aging warehouses, where millions of cheese wheels are stored and used as high-value collateral for regional bank loans.

Italian Wine Industry Considers Targeted Vineyard Removals to Address Oversupply

The Unione Italiana Vini has signaled support for targeted, state-subsidized vineyard removals in struggling regions as the industry responds to changing global wine consumption and persistent oversupply.

Italy Deploys Sovereign Fund Capital to Protect Strategic Domestic Industries

Italian ministries are accelerating investments from the national sovereign fund into sectors including aerospace, fashion and advanced manufacturing as the government seeks to strengthen domestic supply chains and protect strategic comp...

CDP Raises €750 Million Social Bond for Schools, Urban Renewal and Hospitals

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti has issued a €750 million social bond that was heavily oversubscribed by investors, with proceeds earmarked for public schools, urban regeneration and regional hospital expansion.

Eni and CDP Equity Propose Board Overhaul at Saipem

Energy group Eni and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Equity have submitted joint nominations for Saipem’s board, proposing a governance change at the energy engineering company as it navigates global energy transition markets.

Italian State Lender Partners With G7 Institutions on Climate and Infrastructure Financing

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti has formed an alliance with major development banks from the Group of Seven to combine financing for climate adaptation, food security and sustainable infrastructure projects in emerging Mediterranean and Africa...

European Investment Bank Provides €215 Million for New University Science Campus in Milan

The University of Milan has secured €215 million backed by the European Union’s InvestEU programme and Italian state lenders to develop a new scientific research campus in Lombardy.

Italian Household Spending Hits Record Levels as Employment and Services Recovery Support Demand

Confcommercio says household consumer spending has reached a record level this year, supported by employment and continued recovery in services, hospitality and luxury goods despite persistent inflation.

Meloni Defends Italian Police After Violent Turin-Lyon Rail Protest Clashes

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Carabinieri headquarters to express support for officers injured during clashes with environmental activists opposing construction of the Turin-Lyon high-speed railway in the Susa Valley.

Italian Analysts Warn of Growing Russian, Chinese and Iranian Information Warfare

A new geopolitical intelligence assessment warns that Russian, Chinese and Iranian state actors are increasing cyber and disinformation activity targeting Italy’s political institutions and strategic industrial intellectual property.

Italian State Investor Increases Stake in Euronext to Strengthen Role in European Capital Markets

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Equity has joined French and Belgian state investors in buying additional shares of Euronext, increasing Italian participation in the European exchange group that operates the Milan stock market.

GreenIT and Galileo Plan Eight New Utility-Scale Solar Projects Across Italy

GreenIT, the renewable energy joint venture between Plenitude and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, has agreed with Galileo to develop eight major solar photovoltaic facilities as Italy expands renewable generation.

Snam Receives €200 Million Green Loan to Modernize Italy’s Gas Network

State-backed lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti has provided Snam with a €200 million loan to modernize the national gas pipeline network and support the integration of sustainable hydrogen infrastructure.

Monte dei Paschi Rejects Takeover Speculation as Strong Results Support Independence

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena has pushed back against speculation of a takeover by Intesa Sanpaolo after reporting strong quarterly profitability, reaffirming its intention to remain independent within Italy’s banking sector.

Italy and Denmark Lead 22-Nation Call for Stronger EU External Border Controls

Italy and Denmark have joined 22 European countries in calling on European Union leaders to strengthen external border measures and improve management of migration flows across the Mediterranean.

Italy Extends Fuel Price Measures Through Late August to Shield Households and Transport

The Italian government has extended measures to limit the impact of high petrol and diesel prices through late August, using variable excise duties to absorb part of international energy price volatility.

Italian Business and Consumer Confidence Rise Above Forecasts in July

Manufacturing sentiment and consumer confidence both increased during July, according to Italy’s statistics authorities, providing support for the government’s more positive economic outlook despite geopolitical uncertainty.

Mount Etna Ash Disrupts Hundreds of Flights During Italy’s Peak Summer Travel Period

Prolonged volcanic ash emissions from Mount Etna have forced the suspension of hundreds of flights at Catania airport, placing pressure on alternative transport hubs across Sicily during one of the busiest weeks of the summer season.

Italy Approves Corporate Liability Reforms to Reduce Burdens on Small Businesses

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has approved an overhaul of corporate liability rules aimed at cutting compliance costs for smaller companies and protecting business continuity when employees commit administrative violations.

Intesa Sanpaolo and CDP Launch €20 Billion Framework for Italian Agriculture

Intesa Sanpaolo and state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti have launched a €20 billion financing initiative with the Agriculture Ministry to modernize agribusiness, strengthen climate resilience and support Italy’s food supply chain.