The Council of Ministers approved the Infrastructure and National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) decrees: funding for the Turin-Lyon line, an extension of the mini-packages, and measures to combat the heat.

The Government approves the decree with measures for transportation, energy, tourism, and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. €50 million has been allocated for compensatory works on the Turin-Lyon line, and the tax on non-EU mini-parcels has been extended.

The Council of Ministers, meeting at Palazzo Chigi under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, approved an important decree-law containing urgent provisions regarding infrastructure and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), along with other measures regarding the environment, tourism, civil protection, and institutional appointments.

Among the most significant measures are new interventions for the national railway system, funding for works related to the Turin-Lyon line, the extension of the tax on mini-parcels from non-European countries, and the return of extraordinary social safety nets for workers affected by heatwaves.

Infrastructure and transport: new projects for railways and highways

The decree addresses the awarding of Intercity rail services, setting December 31, 2026, as the deadline for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to initiate the awarding process. Contracts may be awarded through a single lot or divided into multiple lots.

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The deadline for adopting expropriation decrees for two important strategic infrastructure projects has also been extended by two years:

• the completion of the Rome-Latina intermodal connection;
• the Cisterna-Valmontone motorway link.

Regarding the Turin-Lyon high-speed railway line, the Government has authorized a total expenditure of 50 million euros for compensatory works in the areas affected by the project.

Extra-EU mini-packages: New tax postponed

Among the tax changes contained in the measure is the extension of the two-euro tax applied to so-called mini-parcels from non-EU countries.

The measure, initially planned for July 1, 2026, will come into force on October 1, 2026, granting three additional months for the system to adapt.

Tourism: More time to access funding

The Council of Ministers also decided to extend the deadline for the Revolving Business Fund (FRI), intended to support investments in hospitality facilities, from June 30 to August 31, 2026.

The resources finance interventions of:

• energy efficiency;
• environmental sustainability;
• digital innovation;
• modernization of tourist facilities.

The goal is to promote the competitiveness of the tourism sector and support businesses' ecological and digital transition.

Extreme heat, redundancy payments are back

In light of the increasingly frequent heat waves that hit the country during the summer, the decree reintroduces a measure already adopted in previous years.

Businesses forced to suspend or reduce operations due to exceptionally high temperatures will be able to access redundancy funds, providing financial protection to affected workers.

Energy security and radioactive waste management

To strengthen the resilience of the national energy system, the Government has appointed a Special Commissioner for Strategic Plants, tasked with ensuring the security of supplies and operational continuity of energy infrastructure in emergency situations.

On the nuclear front, the decree entrusts Sogin with the treatment, conditioning, and disposal of radioactive waste resulting from the decommissioning of the Italian Navy's RTS-1 "Guglielmo Galilei" reactor.

PNRR and public accounting: the new single system arrives

A significant part of the measure concerns the implementation of the public accounting reform envisaged by the PNRR.

The decree regulates the introduction of the new single economic-patrimonial accounting system, defining:

• scope of application;
• accounting principles;
• operating modes;
• training courses;
• experimental phase.

Starting January 1, 2027, ISTAT will also be required to prepare and publish quarterly estimates of the general government balance, broken down by subsector.

Environment: New European Directive on Industrial Emissions Implemented

The Council of Ministers also approved, under preliminary examination, the legislative decree implementing European Directive 2024/1785 on industrial emissions and landfill management.

The new provisions aim to strengthen the environmental authorization system, simplify administrative procedures, and give the Regions a more decisive role in the management and control of livestock farms subject to European regulations.

Actions are also planned regarding compensation for health-related damage and coordination between the competent technical bodies.

The Silvano Medal of Merit is born

Among the provisions preliminarily approved is also the regulation establishing the Silvano Medal of Merit.

There will be three recognition classes:

• Gold Medal;
• Silver Medal;
• Bronze Medal.

The honors will be accompanied by diplomas of merit and will be awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves in the valorization and protection of the national forest heritage.

Emergencies and appointments

The Government has allocated an additional €35,35 million to address the consequences of the weather events that hit the provinces of Catania and Messina between November 2024 and February 2025.

The emergency for the Vicenza municipalities affected by bad weather in April 2025 has also been extended by twelve months.

Among the appointments approved by the Council of Ministers are the extension of Fabio Ciciliano's term as National Extraordinary Commissioner for Water Scarcity and the confirmation of Prefect Maria Grazia Nicolò as Government Extraordinary Commissioner for the coordination of anti-racketeering and anti-usury initiatives.

With the approved decree, the Government is accelerating the implementation of the PNRR and addressing some of the key open issues relating to infrastructure, energy, tourism, the environment, and civil protection, within a framework of investments and reforms that will guide the country in the coming years.