Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's government has approved a disputed liberalisation programme aimed at breathing life into an economy that is headed into recession.
"The cabinet today adopted a draft bill with a package of structural reforms for growth," Monti announced, explaining that the measures were aimed at boosting competition in several sectors and improving Italy's infrastructure.
"The Italian economy has been held back for decades," the country's premier said. "More competition means more openness, more space for young people, less space for privileges and rent-seeking, more space for merit," he added.
Monti said his technocratic cabinet would prepare another reform package next week to streamline Italy's notoriously slow bureaucracy.
The plan announced today, which would change rules covering taxi drivers, pharmacy owners and petrol stations among others, has been strongly resisted by trade unions but is seen as a necessary evil by many Italians.
