The Minister of Regional Affairs and Autonomies Roberto Calderoli has inserted the reference to the principle of insularity in the text of the bill on differentiated autonomy, as requested by the Region of Sardinia.

The explicit reference to the principle which also concerns Sicily is contained in article 9 of the text, today under examination by the Council of Ministers.

This was also confirmed by the president of the Sardinian regional council Michele Pais: «From words to deeds. A few hours after his letter to the Sardinian Assembly, Minister Calderoli changed the text of his reform - commented Pais - and once again proved to be attentive to Sardinia's requests, keeping faith with the commitment assumed on the inclusion of insularity as equalization parameter".

"A victory for the entire Regional Council which is following the process of this reform step by step", underlined Pais, adding that this is "a sign of the government's attention towards Sardinia, which restores balance and fairness and shows that the requests brought forward by our Assembly are finally taken into due consideration".

However, the Regional Council remains divided on the Calderoli bill, and even the modification inserted is considered insufficient by the opposition, which yesterday confirmed its negative judgment on the structure of the reform.

(Unioneonline/L)