- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni identified high energy costs as her administration’s top economic challenge during a business assembly in Bologna.
- Her government is reviewing the national energy market to see if price spikes are partly due to speculation.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on Tuesday, May 27, identified high energy costs as her government’s most urgent economic issue and announced an active review of the national energy market to investigate possible speculative pricing.
Meloni addressed the issue during her keynote speech at the annual Confindustria assembly in Bologna, where she spoke directly to business leaders who have long raised concerns about the financial burden of energy on Italy’s industrial sector.
“We must tackle energy costs as our top priority,” Meloni told the audience. “They weigh heavily on our families, businesses, and overall economic competitiveness.”
Her government has already launched an assessment to determine whether market speculation is sustaining elevated prices. Meloni emphasised that she aims to identify artificial distortions that may inflate costs beyond what market fundamentals justify.
“We are evaluating whether speculation is partly responsible for the high prices,” she said. “This investigation will help us act decisively and fairly.”
Despite a general decline in European energy prices since the 2022 crisis, Meloni highlighted that Italy continues to face disproportionately high costs. These prices affect households and industrial sectors such as manufacturing, steel, chemicals, and ceramics, all of which form the backbone of Italy’s economy.
Business leaders at the event welcomed Meloni’s acknowledgement of the issue but urged the government to move quickly. Confindustria President Carlo Bonomi called for immediate relief measures and long-term strategies to reduce energy dependence and stabilise prices.
“We need swift action, not just analysis,” Bonomi said. “Industries are struggling, and without energy cost relief, many risk losing competitiveness.”
Meloni responded by reaffirming her government’s intention to introduce targeted measures once the review concludes. She also underscored the importance of strengthening domestic energy production and accelerating the country’s transition to renewable sources.
During her remarks, Meloni linked energy costs to broader concerns about economic resilience and national security. She reminded the audience that Italy’s heavy reliance on energy imports leaves it vulnerable to global price swings and supply disruptions.
“We cannot allow external shocks to dictate the future of our economy,” Meloni said. “We will invest in making Italy more energy-independent.”
The Prime Minister assured the business community that her administration would take concrete steps after the market review. She committed to transparency and pledged to share the review’s findings publicly.
“We will not sit back while businesses and citizens struggle,” she said. “We will act based on facts and with urgency.”
Meloni concluded by encouraging collaboration between government and industry, calling on businesses to support energy efficiency efforts and long-term reforms.
“We must work together to build a fair, secure, and sustainable energy system,” she said.