The budget bill of the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for 2025 foresees a bonus of one thousand euros (R$ 6,1 thousand) for each child born or adopted from January 1st, a measure aimed at combating the so-called “demographic winter” in the country.
According to the initiative presented by the Executive, the amount will be paid in the month following the birth or adoption and will be valid for children of Italian citizens, the European Union or nations outside the bloc, as long as the applicants have permission to stay for long-term or work reasons.
However, the benefit will only cover families with an Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator (ISEE) – an instrument that measures living conditions based on annual income and assets – of up to 40 thousand euros (R$ 246 thousand).
According to the government, the estimated cost of the measure is 330 million euros (R$2 billion) in 2025 and 360 million (R$2,2 billion) in 2026, which would mean benefiting 330 and 360 children, respectively.
In 2023, Italy registered 379.890 births, the lowest number in the historical series. For comparison purposes, in 2008, when the statistic reached its peak in the 21st century, there were 576.
A recent projection by the National Institute of Statistics indicated that the country could lose 11,5 million inhabitants by 2070, which would mean a population reduction of 20% in less than half a century.
To try to reverse this scenario, the government already pays a benefit of up to 199,40 euros (R$ 1,2) per month for each child up to 21 years of age, in addition to a “daycare grant” that can total up to 3,6 euros (R$ 22). (HANDLE)
