Meloni says trying to make ReArm plan more sustainable

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 19 - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday said the government is trying to make European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's ReArm Europe plan more sustainable as it is nearly entirely based on the national debt of States, addressing the Lower House after a debate on her communications ahead of this week's EU Council.
    "The government's position is clear, we have made our evaluations, the government has asked to separate defence spending from the Stability Pact.
    "However, today we cannot refrain from posing the problem that the entire Plan presented by EU Commission President von der Leyen is nearly entirely based on the national debt of States", noted Meloni.
    "It is the reason why we are making other proposals, because it helps us deduct expenses, while on the other hand a priority must be to favour private investments on this issue.
    "With (Economy Minister Giancarlo) Giorgetti we have drafted a proposal that follows Invest EU, with European guarantees for private investments and we try to make this plan more sustainable.
    "But the position looks clear to me", noted the premier. (ANSA).