«Here is the mini Constituent Assembly to achieve autonomy. Resources for all Regions»- Corriere.it

«I made a small Constituent Assembly. And I’m proud of it.”

Roberto Calderoli, the Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies, is in a sparkling mood: «On Tuesday the bill was stamped by the State Accounting Office, on Thursday it was signed by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella… A big step forward and, I would say, a productive week.’

«Now we start working in Parliament. It will be necessary to define the matters and areas of matter referable to the essential levels of services, concerning the social and civil rights that must be guaranteed throughout the national territory. Too bad that 22 years after the reform of Title V, despite being provided for by the Constitution, no one has ever seen fit to do so. But if those aren’t there, let alone there can be the costs and standard needs with which those services are rendered».

Calderoli, can you give us a definition of the Lep so that we can all understand why they are important…

«They are the return in terms of State services compared to what citizens and businesses pay in taxes. The State is extremely punctual in determining the rates of direct and indirect taxes, excise duties and so on. Now, what citizens can expect in terms of services rendered by the Republic will be put on paper, with the relative costs and needs”.

Who will decide which services and which costs?

«Parliament will decide which matters will be related to social and civil rights, and it is one of the most difficult choices it will be called upon to make. The Lep, the costs and the needs will be established by the control room, which will be supported by a technical-scientific committee of which I am proud».

«Because it is an organ that almost has a constituent value. A representation of the best that Italy can offer from a scientific point of view and skills, without distinction of political alignment. In all, 61 people divided into 10 working groups. I’m sorry to tell you, but there’s an acronym here too: Clep. lep committee».

Who are the personalities on the committee?

«The president will be Sabino Cassese. And then, Giuliano Amato, the presidents emeritus of the Constitutional Court Franco Gallo and Annibale Marini, the president emeritus of the Cassation Pietro Curzio, the governor of the Bank of Italy Ignazio Visco, the state accountant general Biagio Mazzotta, the former president of the Chamber Luciano Violante, the president Astrid Franco Bassanini, Anna Finocchiaro, the former minister Paola Severino…».

Slowly, slowly minister… We don’t have room for 61 qualified names.

“But I’m sorry, because it’s un table of extraordinary quality that deserves it. People with a spirit of service are joining for a challenge that goes beyond differentiated autonomy».

Beyond Autonomy?

“Well yes. Because once the work of indicating the Lep and the standard costs and needs has been done, it will be possible to ensure that civil and social rights are guaranteed throughout the national territory, even in those that do not require other functions. Moreover, let me remind you: to date there are 9 regions that have requested forms of autonomy on some subjects. Net of the Regions that are already autonomous, these 9 territories represent 72% of the population”.

Does the model of Lep and needs exist in other countries?

«Without prejudice to different constitutions, I would say yes, it is used in different countries. Perhaps the most similar is that of Spain».

Where do you think you will find the resources to put all the Regions on the same starting line?

“It is an idea developed together with Minister Raffaele Fitto on the basis of article 119 of the Constitution: to use national and European development and cohesion funds to bridge the gap that exists today between the Regions”.

«Let’s just take the seven-year period between 2014 and 2020. Between national and European funds, 126 billion had been allocated: 10 were used for the pandemic, just over 50% was committed, but 83 billion of that seven-year period still remained unspent . Then there is the following seven-year period, which cubes more or less the same figure as the previous one. Approximately 200 billion to which the interventions linked to the Pnrr will also be added. Important figures that must be used and must be used well. Now we can really say it: it’s now or never”.