The spokesperson of the European Commission for Economic Affairs, Veerle Nuyts, stated that the measures in the Pnrr decree concerning the governance structure are linked to the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan. However, there are aspects in the decree, such as the law on abortion, that are not covered and have no connection with the Pnrr. This statement sparked a controversy in Italy over the government’s use of European funds for non-related purposes.
The secretary of +Europa, Riccardo Magi, agreed with the European Commission’s criticism, stating that the government’s allocation of PNRR funds for pro-life associations was purely political and had nothing to do with the recovery and resilience plan. He criticized the government for neglecting women’s rights, freedoms, and dignity, and accused them of misusing the funds. Similarly, parliamentarians from the 5 Star Movement denounced the government’s use of European funds for ideological propaganda instead of addressing the real issues affecting women’s rights and choices.
The European Union also criticized the Meloni government for attempting to include rules in the Pnrr decree that allowed pro-life associations into counseling centers for abortion. The Commission emphasized that aspects of the decree, like the law on abortion, had no connection with the Pnrr. The government’s actions were seen as a violation of women’s rights and a misuse of funds intended for the country’s recovery after the pandemic. Members of the majority in parliament were urged to prioritize women’s rights by supporting bills that truly address the issues faced by women in Italy.