An Energy Pact for Italy

Debate touched on issues of strategic relevance, including the supply, cost, and distribution of energy in Italy. The country needs an effective energy policy that can bring together security and efficiency, in a national pact between political and business leaders. Panellists stressed the need to modify Italy’s current energy mix, which favors gas, and to use “clean coal” technology, renewable energy sources, and perhaps even reconsider the nuclear option. Italians also need to save more energy. Another line of action is to diversify sources, also by building new infrastructure – regassification terminals, pipelines – which can serve to lower costs for the consumer. To achieve this goal, Title V of the Italian Constitution must be adapted so as to ensure the legality of such operations, and local providers must be rendered accountable so as to bring the national interest and local administrations into line. In Europe, finally, we should aim towards an oligopoly, where large groups can come up against each other under the guidance of an Authority that fixes rules for everyone. Only the presence of “European champions” can combat operators such as Gazprom and Sonatrach. Any European strategy in this sector should start from the Green Book drawn up by French Economics Minister, Thierry Breton.