Rome (AFP)

Bars, restaurants, cinemas and theaters partially reopened Monday in Italy, where the head of government Mario Draghi is due to present to Parliament his recovery plan funded by the European Union.

The peninsula thus hopes to regain a semblance of normality after months of alternation between drastic closures and timid openings.

A large majority of the twenty regions are now classified in yellow, the lowest level of risk in the face of the pandemic.

Bars and restaurants are allowed to serve on the terrace, and also in the evening, for the first time in six months, although the curfew starting at 10 p.m. is still in effect.

Daniele Vespa, 26, head chef at the Baccano restaurant a stone's throw from the Trevi Fountain, does not hide his joy: "It is the beginning of a return to normality which brings a little fresh air".

"Hopefully it's going to be a nice reopening and that as soon as possible we can also serve inside," the young man told AFPTV as his colleagues finally removed the chains that linked the small bistro tables to them. to each other while waiting for better days.

Cinemas, theaters and concert halls can also accommodate the public up to 50% of their capacity.

Next will be swimming pools, gyms and amusement parks by July 1.

Mr Draghi has come under pressure from regional leaders and several protests to relax anti-Covid restrictions.

The ex-president of the European Central Bank admitted he was taking a "calculated risk" as Italy continues to record an average of more than 300 deaths every day, even though contagions and the number of admissions in resuscitation decrease.

The vaccination campaign has reached a cruising speed with around 350,000 doses administered each day, however with disparities between regions.

"It is clear that if the gradual reopening is interpreted as a + Return to the life of before +, a new peak of contagions could compromise the summer season", warned Nino Cartabellotta, who heads the GIMBE foundation, specializing in public health issues.

- European model -

Italy, the first European country hit hard by the pandemic in early 2020, has lost nearly a million jobs and suffered a drop in its GDP of 8.9% in 2020.

The third-largest economy in the euro zone is therefore counting on the mega-stimulus plan adopted in July by the EU, endowed with 750 billion euros, to reinvigorate its economy.

Mario Draghi is due to present to Parliament on Monday the details of his national plan to spend this European windfall.

Italy is the main beneficiary with 191.5 billion euros in loans and grants.

A first "green light" from the European Union to the Italian recovery plan came on Saturday, Mario Draghi announced in the Council of Ministers after a telephone interview with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to a government spokesperson .

Among the priorities listed are the renovation of aging infrastructure (highways, railways, etc.), renewable energies (hydrogen, etc.), high-speed internet and the digitization of businesses and administrations.

Another objective will be to bridge the gap between the north and the south of the peninsula, while coming to the aid of young people and women, particularly affected by the current crisis.

Mario Draghi also emphasized the importance of tackling problems already present before the pandemic, such as tax fraud, bureaucracy or the slowness of justice.

Disputes over the recovery plan had contributed in February to the fall of the government of Giuseppe Conte, the predecessor of Mr. Draghi, who suddenly saw himself parachuted at the head of the country crowned with the image of a savior.

"Mario Draghi is at the head of a government of national unity, which gives him significant leeway to carry out the necessary reforms without being hampered by the fragmentation of parties in Italy," Jesus told AFP. Castillo, economist at Natixis.

© 2021 AFP