Businessmen have come together to face the possible loss of their concessions.
At Fiumicino, Italiabeach concessions and lack of a national law that regulates themare the main topics of conversation among coastal businesses.
Instead of calling an awareness strike, as many have done recently when faced with this problem, local businessmen have united to face the possible loss of their licenses because a Government reform aims to put them out to competition.
Increase competitiveness
The Italian Government responds with the reform of the European Bolkestein directive, whose objective is increase competitiveness by freeing the market in a number of sectors. However, the controversy has been going on for years and some operators They fear for the future of their businessesespecially after the concessions have been extended until the end of 2024.
Marco Lepre, beach club ownerheads the group that represents a total of 11 businessmen spread along the coast of Fiumincino. “The objective of the initiative is to participate in the tenders that now seem inevitable using our best tools,” says Lepre.
“Our idea is to share projects that allow local entrepreneurs stand out and get the highest score”. Lepre explains that the functioning of the sector in Italy is very different from that in other EU Member Stateswith many families who have been living off it for decades.
“They have invested resources, they have created a lifestyle that has been passed down from generation to generation“continues Lepre. This type of family business has a significant impact on the Italian economy and in the tourism sectorwhich represents around 6% of the country’s GDP.
However, the State Council recently ruled that concessions cannot be renewed automatically as beforewhich adds to the effects of the infringement procedure started by the European Commission in 2020 for not adjusting the Italian legislation in this matter to the community framework.
The Government’s efforts to resolve the conflict
Some professional organizations, including Federbalneari, trust the Government’s efforts to resolve the conflict: “We have decided not to go on strike because we believe it is better sit at the table with all parties involved and work together on reform,” says Marco Maurelli, president of the organization.
“We are preparing for any scenario. We hope that the Government will play its role as a liaison with the European Commission in these very complex and exhausting negotiations,” continues Maurelli.
“We trust in the actions of the Government”
“He Meloni Government has submitted a formal document to negotiate a reform with the EU Commission. “It is the first time it has been done in 15 years, and we trust in the Government’s actions.”
As explained Elonora Poli, director of the Italian think tank Center for European Policy, which has discussed this issue extensively, in Italia the beaches are property of the state and can be managed for profit through concessions granted by local authorities such as regions or municipalities.
Serious consequences for Italy
“But time is of the essence,” says Poli, “and with such an ambiguous legal framework, the consequences for Italy of not having a national law could be very important.”
“Italy risks very expensive fines,” continues Poli, “It is not a problem that started with the Meloni Governmentis an issue that the country has been dealing with for years. National rules are needed to establish how concessions should be renewed. Afterwards, all municipalities and regions should enforce them,” he concludes.
