Energy Costs Unsustainable for Italian Industry, Warns Confindustria President

Bologna: Energy costs have become unsustainable for the Italian industry, announced Confindustria President Emanuele Orsini. Orsini highlighted that the decoupling of electricity prices from those of natural gas has finally been considered by the government, following similar moves in France and Spain.

According to Ansa News Agency, Orsini expressed concerns over the high energy costs during a public meeting of Confindustria Emilia Area Centro. He pointed out that Italian industries are paying 4-5 times more for energy compared to the United States and 30-60% more than some European countries. This price disparity poses a significant challenge for energy-intensive companies. Orsini emphasized the urgency of implementing the decoupling strategy as winter approaches.

Orsini further elaborated that growth in the country cannot be achieved simply through improvements in IRPEF personal income tax. Instead, he stressed the importance of fostering productivity contracts to increase wages. He argued that the focus should be on empowering industries and businesses to produce and earn more, thereby distributing wealth effectively.

The discussions between Confindustria and the government regarding the 2026 budget bill are underway, with a need for additional measures totaling eight billion euros to support businesses. Orsini noted that several existing incentives, including Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, the Single Economic Zone (SEZ), and tax credits for research and development, are nearing expiration. He called for prompt government action to address these issues and support the industrial sector.