Bars, restaurants, cinemas, and performance venues will partially reopen on Monday in Italy, as Prime Minister Mario Draghi presents his economic recovery plan in Parliament, funded by the European Union. Italy hopes for a gradual return to normal life after months of alternating between strict lockdowns and limited reopenings.
Bars and restaurants in the vast majority of the twenty regions that have turned yellow, signifying the lowest level of risk for the COVID-19 pandemic, will be allowed to reopen their outdoor areas, including in the evening, for the first time in six months, although a curfew will remain in place starting at 10:00 PM UTC.
Daniele Vespa, a 26-year-old manager at the Bacano restaurant near the Trevi Fountain, expressed his joy, saying, "It’s a start toward returning to normal life, allowing us to breathe a sigh of relief." He told AFP TV, "We hope that the reopening goes well and that we can welcome diners indoors as soon as possible," while his colleagues removed chains that had been placed to separate tables in anticipation of an improvement in the situation.
Cinemas, theaters, and music venues will now be able to receive an audience at 50% of their capacity, with swimming pools, sports centers, and amusement parks expected to follow by July 1st. Draghi has faced pressure from regional authorities and protestors to soften the restrictions imposed to combat COVID-19. He acknowledged that he is taking a "calculated risk" at a time when Italy is still recording more than 300 daily deaths, despite a decline in the rate of infections and ICU admissions.
The vaccination campaign is currently stable, approaching 350,000 doses per day, although there is variation between regions. Nino Cartabellota, head of the Gimbe Institute specializing in public health issues, warned, "It is clear that if gradual reopening is interpreted as a +return to life as it was before+, we could see a new spike in infections that would pose a threat to the summer season."
Italy was the first European country to be heavily impacted by the pandemic in early 2020, recording a decline of 8.9% in its total GDP in 2020 alongside a loss of about one million jobs. As the third-largest economy in the Eurozone, Italy is therefore counting on the massive €750 billion recovery plan approved by the EU in July to revitalize its economy. On Monday, Draghi will present the details of the national plan for spending this European funding to Parliament.
Italy is the main beneficiary of this plan, which allocates €191.5 billion in loans and aid. The EU gave initial approval for the Italian recovery plan on Saturday, as Draghi announced during a Cabinet meeting following a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to a government spokesman. Priorities include repairing deteriorating infrastructure (public roads and railways, etc.), renewable energy, high-speed internet, and digitization of businesses and administrations.
Other priorities include bridging the gap between the north and south of the country, as well as supporting the youth and women who have been particularly affected by the health crisis. Draghi also emphasized the importance of addressing pre-existing issues such as tax fraud, bureaucracy, and the slow judicial system. Disagreements over the rescue plan in February contributed to the fall of Giuseppe Conte's government, leading to Draghi's rise to power as the country's savior.
Economic expert Jesús Castillo from Natixis explained to AFP that "Mario Draghi heads a national unity government, which gives him considerable leeway to implement necessary reforms without being hampered by party fragmentation in Italy."
