After five months' of discussion the prefect of Rome, Achille Serra, has reached an agreement with the trade unions, political parties, city and provincial authorities to reduce the amount of inconvenience caused to citizens and tourists by marches and demonstrations in the centre of the city. There have already been 600 in the first four months of this year. From now on demonstrations should avoid Piazza Venezia, Piazza SS Apostoli and the roads running along the banks of the river Tiber, all crucial for keeping the traffic flowing. In future those organising demonstrations will be invited to choose from eight new routes all of which begin in major squares on the edge of the centre.

However the agreement is not binding and already many of the organisers who did not sign the agreement have declared they will ignore it.