By Giuseppe Fonte, Angelo Amante and Giselda Vagnoni ROME (Reuters) -Italy approved on Thursday a new aid package worth around 17 billion euros ($17.4 billion) to help shield firms and families from surging energy costs and rising consumer prices. The scheme, one of the last major acts by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi before a national election next month, comes on top of some 35 billion euros budgeted since January to soften the impact of sky-high electricity, gas and petrol costs. “This package is aimed at protecting Italy’s economic recovery in the face of a worsening international e…