Ministry of Economy and Finances. Decree of 29 December 2014. Allocation in allotments of the Vote units of the Parliament concerning the provisional budget of the State for financial year 2015 and for the three-year period 2015-2017.
DESTROYING THE FREE TERRITORY OF TRIESTE’S ECONOMY
To date [2015] the Italian Republic’s State Budgets contain an item regarding expenditures for the administration of the present-day Territory of Trieste. Right. The Free Territory. Not the Trieste Province, even if that would belong to the FTT anyways (as previously explained on my own blog).
If you want some examples, I suggest my previous post “Italy’s obligations towards the Free Territory of Trieste“.
The current Financial Law (2015 – 2017) has this item as No. 7490 except it amounts to exactly… nothing. So, EUR 0 is the expense planned for the next three years.
Still, the the commitment of expenditure is there, even if there is nothing to spend, by virtue of the Italian Government’s obligation under the 1954 MoU regarding the FTT. In particular, as part of the Free Territory’s temporary civil administration, there needs to be a fund to promote economic recovery and private business.
When Trieste’s first British-US Government (A.M.G. F.T.T. – Allied Military Government of the Free Territory of Trieste) administered the Free Territory, it received funds as part of the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan). Even then, the fund served to rebuild and develop the newly independent State.
The Italian Government was supposed continue the strengthening the Free Territory’s economy, still in its early stages, and then let it grow.
Not that it was difficult in the first place: the City-State has has the only existing international Free Port, the FTT’s main State corporation. Already during the good British-US administration, this unique port broke all past records in maritime traffics volume.
Instead, the Italian administration meant brought to an end any possible rebirth. The Free Territory of Trieste was deprived of its State budgets, of its own economic management, and became the colony of a nationalistic “camorra” (LINK). This is the local gang that, in breach of international and of Italian laws, simulates Italian sovereignty over Trieste for its own advantage.
A simulation that is more than just propaganda: since 1954, this corrupt lobby forces on Trieste the laws, taxation, and elections of bordering Italy. It only respects some international provisions and only in relations with certain States (eg. in the Free Port) to prevent international disputes.
Because of this simulation of sovereignty, the local nationalistic camorra did (and does) enjoy some wealth from special funds. Except it was funds that should have been used to develop the Free Territory of Trieste and its international Free Port.
The local nationalistic camorra invests its new wealth to build up artificial support. And, of course, it does so re-assigning the funds. Obviously, the main beneficiaries are other fervent, Italian nationalistic patriots. Many of Trieste’s people who didn’t like this system have since long left. They were driven to emigration. And when there are no no loyal pro-Italians to receive them, the funds are simply not issued.
See translation note No. 1.
This is how the allocations to support Trieste’s economy all vanished. They did as the local pro-Italian nationalistic camorra became stronger exploiting the Free Territory’s wealth and weakening its international Free Port. If activated, Trieste’s port would be too much of a competitor for Italian ports (which are often controlled by other “camorras” – the mafia-like criminal cartels).
If it weren’t for this anacronistic nationalism, Trieste’s international Free Port would be Europe’s number 1 port.
Translated from blog “Ambiente e Legalità” – “Environment and Legality” by Roberto Giurastante
1 – image above:
The “Special Management for the Territory of Trieste” was established under Allied Military Government Order No. 80 of 15 May 1951 and of Commissarial Decree No. 263 of 30 July 1956 as part of the Special Section for Industrial Credit to finance private enterprises in the Territory of Trieste and in the Province of Gorizia. Currently, in view of functioning expenses, and the “Management” is negative.
Recently, once again, both the deficit and the inactivity were brought to the attention of local Authorities (Prefect of Trieste and Region Friuli Venezia Giulia) seeking the measures required for an effective use of those resources since, all while simplifying the strict obligations established under their establishing provisions.
In particular, the requirement to draft the budget was abolished (and, consequently, the annual income tax declaration) by removing the “Management” from the funds of third parties under administration.
Illustration: Italian Ministry of Economics and Finances. Yellow highlight: Item No. 7490. “Funds to be assigned for matters concerning the Territory of Trieste”. 2015, 2016, and 2017 are all blank.