Giorgia Meloni’s cabinet has accused Switzerland of an “ignoble” demand for tens of thousands of euros to cover emergency care after the New Year’s Eve blaze at the Constellation nightclub in Crans‑Montana. The fire killed 41 people, including six Italians, and left 115 injured, 13 of them Italians with severe burns. Families of four survivors from Italy say they received invoices close to €130,000 for a one‑day stay in Sion hospital before being airlifted to Milan.

Rome’s envoy in Bern, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, told the FT that Italy will “never, ever” settle the charges and urged families to discard the bills. Swiss authorities treat the incident as a routine emergency, forwarding costs to the Federal Social Insurance Office, which then seeks repayment from foreign insurers. For the 13 Italian patients, Cornado estimates total claims could reach about €434,000.

The billing dispute adds fresh pressure to already‑tense Italy‑Switzerland ties, which have been strained by a slow investigation and the release of a club owner on bail. While Bern prefers to resolve the matter through existing bilateral insurance mechanisms, Rome signals it will continue pressing for greater accountability. The standoff underscores how cross‑border health costs can quickly become a diplomatic flashpoint.