Italy’s PM Mario Draghi on Tuesday promised that criminal gangs will not get their hands on cash from Italy's post-Covid National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), the lion's share of which is being financed by close to €200bn of EU grants and low-interest loans, ANSA reported.

The Italian government approved on Thursday some of the strictest anti-Covid measures in the world, making it obligatory for all workers either to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from infection, Reuters reported. The new rules will come into force on 15 October in the latest effort by PM Mario Draghi's broad coalition to persuade people to get inoculated and blunt contagion in one of the countries worst-hit by the virus.

Italy may eventually make COVID-19 inoculations compulsory for everyone of eligible age, and plans to start administering booster vaccine shots later this month to vulnerable people, Reuters reported, citing PM Mario Draghi as saying on Thursday. The government has already made it mandatory for medical workers to get vaccinated if they want to be paid, but Draghi said everyone may be obliged to get a shot when EU health authorities give full approval to the vaccines.

Italy’s cabinet of PM Mario Draghi has reached an agreement on a compromise in relation to a reform of Italy's criminal-justice system, sources said on Thursday, ANSA reported. The compromise has the backing of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), the sources said. The reform, drafted by Justice Minister Marta Cartabia, is aimed at speeding up Italy's criminal-law system.

The Italy’s government announced on Thursday that a Covid Green Pass vaccine passport will be needed from 6 August to get into restaurants indoors, open-air shows, spas, swimming pools, gyms, fairs, congresses and competitive examinations, news wires reported. "The Green Pass is essential if we want to keep businesses open," PM Mario Draghi told reporters.

Italy's government announced on Tuesday evening its decision to ban large cruise ships from entering the Venice Lagoon, news wires reported. The measure applies to cruise ships with more than 25,000 gross registered tonnage or a length of more than 180 metres or a height of more than 35 metres. Vessels that exceed certain emission standards will also no longer be able to sail through the lagoon of the world heritage city.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi on Thursday signed a decree introducing the Covid Green Pass proving coronavirus vaccination, which will be valid across the EU from 1 July, ANSA reported. The pass will permit travel across the EU for those who have been fully vaccinated, and allow access to all health systems.

Italy’s PM Mario Draghi plans to set up a board of technical experts to strictly oversee management of Italy's five-year Recovery Plan, according to a draft government decree obtained by Reuters. The decree, set to be approved by the cabinet on Friday, includes emergency measures to streamline bureaucracy and explains how the government will implement investment projects to be funded by the EU.

Italy's ruling parties on Monday agreed to shorten a nightly curfew to 11 p.m. from 10 p.m. with immediate effect and ease other coronavirus curbs in areas where infections are low, government sources, cited by Reuters, said. Speaking after a meeting of medical advisers to Mario Draghi's government and coalition representatives, the sources said in these areas the curfew will begin at midnight from 7 June, and be abolished altogether from 21 June.

Italy is pushing EU partners to revive migrant burden-sharing deals as it seeks to stave off a summertime surge in landings from North Africa, PM Mario Draghi said on Wednesday, AFP reported. Migration has returned to the top of the political agenda in Italy after more than 2,200 asylum-seekers from Tunisia and Libya arrived on its tiny island of Lampedusa last weekend.