"CNEL has long supported the importance of the National Productivity Committee, which is a strategic body supporting economic policy. It is required by a 2016 EU recommendation on competitiveness and already exists in 10 EU countries and 3 others in the eurozone. In this sense, with the support of all social and economic forces, we have prepared a bill to establish the National Productivity Committee in Italy as well. The text (A.S. n. 1214), announced in the Hall of “Palazzo Madama” on April 16, 2019, was assigned to the 1st Constitutional Affairs Commission. Given the urgency (the Committee was to be established by March 2018), the path of the Prime Ministerial Decree can also be taken. " 

It is stated by the president of CNEL Tiziano Treu, intervening on the proposal of the Undersecretary for Economic Development Gian Paolo Manzella.

“The natural seat for the establishment of the Committee is the CNEL, for the impartiality that comes from its constitutional nature and for its prerogatives, which are recognized as a place for public debate and social participation ", adds Treu.

The CNEL bill provides for the creation of a non partisan body that analyzes and evaluates the productivity and competitiveness of the system-country, monitoring its developments and proposing the policies and reforms necessary at national level for the revitalization of the economy. Italy is one of the few European countries that has not yet taken action on the establishment of this body which is proving strategic to support economic policy.

The choice to establish it at CNEL responds to the indications of Recommendation 2016 / C 349/01, published in the Official Journal of the European Union of 24 September 2016, which argues in point 7 that 'The productivity committees should have functional autonomy towards any public authority responsible for defining and implementing policies in the area of ​​productivity and competitiveness in the Member States or at European level. In particular, they should be able to develop independent analysis in the sphere of their respective competences. The composition of the productivity committees, albeit at the discretion of the individual countries, should be established impartially, as the committees should not transmit only or mainly the opinions of specific groups of stakeholders. These requirements of independence and impartiality are intended to ensure that the productivity committees are empowered to provide expert analysis formulated in the general interest".

According to the EU Recommendation, the Committee "analyses and evaluates the productivity and competitiveness of the national production system; monitors its developments and ensures information on the results of its activities; proposes the necessary policies and reforms at national level in the productivity and competitiveness sector and those necessary for greater coordination of the European Union's economic policies. "

Download and read the CNEL Bill on the Productivity Committee