The only way forward is to reduce the overall level of spending and improve its quality. Promising more spending ultimately means raising taxes. For everyone

Even before the Spanish scandal broke, the Parliament’s Special Committee on Housing, chaired by the Democratic Party MEP, had already addressed the severity of the housing crisis and the shortage of homes in Europe: prices have risen by 60 per cent over ten years. Yet the forthcoming EU budget lacks the necessary resources

It is certainly true that some things are not going as well as we would all like. But it is equally true that the (median) disposable household income has risen, in real terms, by around 1.5 per cent between 2019 and 2024 for households whose main source of income is earnings from employment

 According to data compiled by Istat, last year 18.1 per cent of households (around 4.8 million) were renting and paid an average of 438 euros a month, 3.6 per cent more than in 2024

Pension funds can be a useful tool, but you cannot call it ‘pension reform’ when it essentially just decides who will manage savings that workers were already obliged to set aside. Points for consideration

This result is the outcome of strategies which, over the years, have significantly narrowed the VAT gap and which the government is continuing to pursue. However, the revenue gained from tackling the informal economy should be used to reduce taxes for those who pay them regularly