Council of Ministers: extensions, reforms, and new international agreements. The Meloni government approves a comprehensive package of measures.

It took place on December 11, 2025, at 18.02 pm, at Palazzo Chigi, the meeting of the Council of Ministers No. 151, chaired by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and with Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano serving as secretary. The meeting—which closed at 6:53 PM—addressed a particularly complex agenda, ranging from legislative extensions to military reforms, international cooperation, and the implementation of European directives.

Below are the main items approved and discussed by the Government.

Extension of numerous regulatory deadlines: support for businesses, families and healthcare

The Council approved a decree-law extending the deadlines containing a series of measures considered urgent to ensure administrative and economic continuity.

Business and work

Extended until December 31, 2026 the operation of the Guarantee Fund for SMEs, an essential tool for accessing credit for thousands of companies.

Sled to the March 31, 2026 the deadline for the stipulation of catastrophe risk insurance, an obligation introduced to protect small and micro-enterprises, including those in the tourism and catering sectors.

Health and safety

Extension up to December 31, 2026 with the criminal shield For healthcare workers, criminal liability is limited to gross negligence only. The validity of the special ranking for firefighters has also been renewed.

Families and territories

Il CAS – Contribution for independent accommodation in the areas hit by disasters is extended until 2026. The activities necessary for the definition of the Essential Levels of Performance (LEP).

Highway Code and corporate governance

The biennial update of the pecuniary sanctions of the Highway Code.
Sled to the September 30, 2026 the deadline for holding company meetings under the special procedures introduced in 2020.

Research

Some bans on the use of the animal model in research on xenotransplantation and drugs of abuse.

New Agreement signed with the Italian Buddhist Union

The Council of Ministers has authorized the signing of theAmendment Agreement between the State and the Italian Buddhist Union, which updates the one already entered into force with law 245/2012.

The new features concern:

• the recognition of academic qualifications issued by institutions with legal personality and approved by UBI,
• new rules on marriage with civil effects,
• the update of the destination modes of the8 per thousand.

Military reform: new career paths and a unified military health system

The Government has launched two legislative decrees implementing Law 201/2023, which profoundly redesigns the structure of the Italian military.

Reorganization of the Armed Forces

Among the main objectives:

• reach within the 2033 an overall staff of 160.000 unit,
• remodel the curriculum at the Officers' Academy, with appointment as aspirant in the second year and as second lieutenant in the third,
• introduce a mandatory stop for Marshals recruited through competition,
• expand access for VFPs to Sergeant competitions,
• raise the age limit until 2033 for internal competitions for officers,
• Special competitions for transition to the roles of Marshal and Sergeant, including for civilian personnel until 2030.

Revolution in Military Healthcare

The measure introduces the Single Corps of Military Health, with a simultaneous reorganization of the health services of the Armed Forces and the Carabinieri.
The entry into force of the new arrangement is set for January 1, 2027.

Italy–Albania Strategic Agreement: Cooperation on Energy, Migration, Security, and Innovation

Green light to the bill for the ratification of theG2G Framework Agreement between Italy and Albania, signed on 13 November 2025.

The text defines a comprehensive framework for bilateral collaboration in key sectors:

• energy (renewables, efficiency, infrastructure),
• technology (biodiversity, waste, water),
• defense and security,
• civil protection,
• migrants (patrols, cooperation in combating irregular networks),
• justice (fight against organized crime),
• infrastructure,
• Health,
• agri-food industry,
• ,
• innovation and AI,
• education and diaspora.

The birth of a is expected Joint Cooperation Committee, supported by a Technical Secretariat.

Implementation of the EU Directive on Alternative Investment Funds

The Government has approved in preliminary examination a legislative decree which implements the EU directive 2024/927, reforming the discipline of AIFs that provide loans and introducing uniform European rules on liquidity management, delegation of functions and custody services.

The TUF is updated and the supervisory powers are strengthened Bank of Italy e Consob.

Justice: three legislative decrees are now definitive

Three measures implementing European standards have been approved:

• European orders for the production and preservation of electronic evidence,
• designation of evidence storage facilities,
• definition of crimes relating to the violation of EU restrictive measures.

2026 Honors confirmed at 3.500 units

The contingent of honors of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic remains unchanged from 2025:

• 20 Knights of the Grand Cross
• 80 Grand Officers
• 300 Commanders
• 500 Officers
• 2.600 Knights

Renewable energy: eleven new plants in Puglia receive positive environmental impact assessments.

The Council of Ministers expressed a favorable opinion with the value of VIA for eleven agrovoltaic and photovoltaic projects, located between Foggia, Taranto, Brindisi and Bari.
These are high-power plants, often integrated with livestock farming, storage systems and connection works to the national grid.

New religious agreements and public bargaining

The agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and the CEI for the appointment of a general spiritual assistant for the Catholic volunteer component of the Civil Protection.

The Government also expresses a favorable opinion – with conditions – on the new collective agreement for the sector Education and research for the three-year period 2022-2024.

State of emergency extended in Tuscany and Liguria

Extended by twelve months state of emergency for the exceptional meteorological events of 25-26 October 2024, which affected numerous municipalities in the provinces of Pisa and Livorno.

Movement of Prefects and new appointments

The Council of Ministers has approved a broad package of appointments regarding diplomacy, public security, the Ministry of Culture and, above all, a complex movement of Prefects, with destinations, promotions and special assignments.

This is one of the most extensive reorganization interventions in the prefectures in recent years, with new assignments in the provinces of:

• Cagliari, Taranto, Frosinone, Ragusa, Pescara, Brindisi, Massa Carrara, Chieti, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Lucca, Matera, Enna, L'Aquila and Bolzano.

Regional laws: three appeals and numerous non-appeals

The Government challenges:

• a law of the Province of Bolzano on the budget and the third sector,
• one from the Campania Region regarding trade,
• one from the Umbria Region on energy transition and landscape protection.

Nine other regional laws, including those in Abruzzo, Trento, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Liguria, are not being challenged.

Also significant is the total waiver of the right of appeal on South Tyrolean law “Housing Reform 2025”, now considered compliant after the introduced changes.