Speaking at Confindustria’s national assembly in Bologna, President Emanuele Orsini outlined a bold agenda focused on industrial renewal, energy reform, and economic growth. He called on the Italian government and European institutions to launch an ambitious industrial strategy, tying it directly to GDP recovery.

“We need to double down on Industry 4.0, or 6.0 – whatever we call it – as long as it’s scaled up,” Orsini said. “It’s a critical lever for us.” He also advocated for renewed support of development contracts, which he described as proven tools with tangible business impact. “But we need simpler procedures, clear rules, and faster turnaround times. At a time like this, we have to persuade our entrepreneurs to invest.”

To drive industrial growth, Orsini proposed an €8 billion annual investment package over the next three years, ideally extended to five. “We should set an ambitious target: at least 2% GDP growth next year,” he stated.

On the energy front, Orsini raised serious concerns about the cost burden on businesses. Citing data from Italy’s Energy Authority, he noted that renewables have received €170 billion in incentives to date, funded largely through utility bills paid by households and companies.

“After all these subsidies, we can no longer accept energy prices still tied to the cost of gas,” he argued. “It’s time to decouple renewables from gas pricing. Renewables account for 45% of the power on the grid, but they don’t help bring down industrial energy costs. That’s unsustainable – we need urgent action.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed the concern, stating that “the most urgent issue is the cost of energy.”