The European Parliament's
economic affairs committee has approved former Italian premier
Paolo Gentiloni's nomination to be the new Economic Affairs
Commissioner after his hearing on Thursday, sources said.
Addressing MEPs in a hearing beforehand, Gentiloni told the
European Parliament that he would focus on cutting debt if MEPs
ratified his nomination.
"I will concentrate on reduction of public debt in the
application of our rules as someone who cares about the
potentially destabilizing impact of high debt when the economy
is going badly," Gentiloni said during his hearing in the
parliament.
The former Italian premier and centre-left Democratic Party
(PD) bigwig added that he would also make "appropriate use of
the budget space (allowed) to address the risk of our economies
slowing".
He also said that Eu rules were not an impediment to
investments; that current growth was not sustainable and
lawmakers should think of citizens; that the stability and
growth pact was "not perfect" and reflection should be made on
revising; that he would not be a commissioner for a single
country (Italy); and that he would use budget flexibility to
boost investments.
Gentiloni stressed that budget flexibility was not a
"concession" but was enshrined in EU rules.
He also said that "discretionality" should not dominate
flexibility.
Gentiloni added that the golden rule was up for discussion.
The former premier was proposed by the new 5-Star-PD
government.
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