Government and manoeuvre, Giulio Sapelli: “Italy must be a continental energy hub”
“Italy can and must be an energy hub, but also a maritime and intermodal traffic hub. The government has worked wonders up to now, now let’s see if we can continue on this path”. Julius Sapellirenowned economist, tells ad Affaritaliani.it what is your idea for Italy and why we must continue to insist on the key role that we have achieved in the last two years. Starting from a certainty: “No one has called me, but I’m here if it’s needed”.
Professor, today Minister Tajani declared that Italy can become a European energy hub: is that right?
There is no doubt about this, but an energy hub must be placed in a wider context. A global and intermodal infrastructure is needed, starting from the port of Gioia Tauro. We continue to lose billions that could go to the state, the ships pass through Gibraltar, go up to Rotterdam and then the goods come to us. The Calabrian port has all the characteristics necessary to become a key center in the Mediterranean. It has sufficient draft to accommodate large merchant ships, but so far we have not taken this opportunity due to incapacity and sloth. We had tried, and I am also one of those who proposed it, but we failed. Obviously, this energy hub cannot be done without the Messina Bridge.
In your opinion, is there a plan that links Mattei’s death with the latest events with an imaginary common thread that has the aim of keeping Italy “in its doghouse” in energy matters?
Sounds like a conspiracy plot to me. Italy has a duty to talk to everyone, especially the French and the Germans, the Middle East and Africans. We need to go back to being mediators between the Greater Middle East, Europe and Africa, Italy must take advantage of its central role. Eni continued Mattei’s work, but the governments that followed one another from the 1960s onwards did not continue along the path traced by the “father” of the six-legged dog. Above all, the failure of all the centre-left governments, which have been unable to provide us with a suitable infrastructure, is sensational.
A judgment on the current government?
It seems to me that they worked miracles. Minister Urso is a person of great competence, of great international experience; Giorgetti is in continuity with Draghi. I see this government in continuity, rather than in rupture, with the previous experience. Then I have my own more radical ideas on economic policy: I don’t want a state economy, but rather a public one, the so-called common goods, which are quite another thing. It seems to me that the government is moving in that direction with both Ilva and Priolo.
A judgment on Minister Salvini?
What Salvini said on the Messina bridge is right, otherwise politics is taking its course…
I see you as too diplomatic, professor
It’s Christmas and we all need to be better.
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