(ANSA) - Alessandria, November 8 - Premier Matteo Renzi
said Tuesday that the time when Italy took orders from the
European Union are over.
"Help me to express the idea of a strong Italy, which does
not go to Europe to be told what it has to to, but takes its
ideas and values to Europe," Renzi told a meeting of mayors from
the northern province of Alessandria.
Renzi's administration is also engaged in a battle of
wills with the European Union over its 2017 draft budget, which
features a higher than previously agreed deficit target due to
Italy's spending on its earthquake and asylum-seeker
emergencies.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday
said the Italian government is trying to raise the deficit in
ways that are unjustified and warned it to stop attacking the EU
executive.
Time of EU diktats is over, says Renzi (2)
Premier says strong Italy takes its ideas, values to Europe