As promised, today we approved a legislative decree implementing the ‘Patto per la Terza Età’ [‘Pact for senior citizens’]: this is a reform we are proud of and that Italy had been awaiting for more than 20 years, representing just one step along a path that will continue throughout this legislature. With over EUR 1 billion in two years and a trial beginning for a universal benefit that will allow the ‘accompaniment allowance’ for fragile elderly people who are most in need to be increased by more than 200%, we are finally providing concrete responses to the needs of Italy’s more than 14 million senior citizens, for those who are not self-sufficient and their families. Ever since coming to office, the Government has been working on a structural reform of policies to support senior citizens, aware that elderly people represent the history of this Nation. I wish to thank all the Ministries for their collective work on this, allowing us to launch a new national governance of policies for the elderly.
[Courtesy translation]