The Council of Ministers of 4 August approved a decree-law (hereinafter also referred to as DL or Decree) containing a series of urgent measures aimed mainly at tackling the high energy price and supporting the purchasing power of households.

The measure can count on a significant financial dowry, amounting to approximately EUR 17 billion, of which EUR 14 billion is the result of the good performance of public finances, 'certified' by the adjustment of public accounts, also as a result of the extra income from the increase in inflation.

In general terms - and pending the examination of the final texts - it is useful to emphasise, first of all, the significant size of the intervention, built without budgetary deviations, as well as the fact that, on the whole, the available resources are concentrated on rather precise objectives.

In fact, the two main thrusts of the DL concern energy and labour. On the first, the measures adopted appear to be substantially in line with expectations, including those of businesses, related to the need to continue to contain the effects of the emergency; on the second, the government has opted to give priority to supporting the purchasing power of workers, leaving in the background at this stage the need to contain labour costs on the business side.

In addition, there are interventions in industrial policies and in support of territorial authorities.

In the attached note, the measures of greatest interest.