Sicily financial autonomy: Deputy Minister proposes technical talks

Italian Deputy Economy Minister Maurizio Leo has proposed establishing a technical committee between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Sicilian Region to address the issue of financial autonomy. The goal is to implement Article 37 of the Sicilian Special Statute, which governs the region's fiscal prerogatives.

During a presentation of a book by tax law professor Angelo Cuva, discussions highlighted that the failure to fully implement the Statute's financial provisions may have resulted in annual fiscal losses for Sicily estimated between 8 and 10 billion euros, specifically regarding IRPEF and VAT. This lack of implementation is cited as a barrier to the island's infrastructure development and investment capacity.

Cuva argued that the Sicilian Statute has not failed but has been “betrayed,” noting that the conditions for its application exist. He warned that without immediate action to implement financial measures—some of which were drafted by the regional government as early as 2018—Sicily risks falling behind other regions pursuing differentiated autonomy.