European Economic Affairs
Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Tuesday welcomed what he
described as a change of approach from Italy in talks over
Rome's budget plan for 2019.
"Dialogue with Italy is ongoing, it is becoming more
intense," Moscovici said.
"We can see a different tone, a different way to cooperate
and we can see that Italy is willing to listen to our point of
view to resolve the problems.
"It is a step that we welcome and the investors feel the same
way.
"Now dialogue has truly started on both the method and the
substance.
"(At the G20 summit) in Buenos Aires, we had positive talks
with (Premier Giuseppe) Conte and (Economy Minister Giovanni)
Tria and we decided to continue... and we gave our teams the
mandate to work in that direction".
The Commission has rejected Rome's budget plan for 2019,
which sees Italy running a deficit of 2.4% of GDP next year,
saying it breaks EU rules.
Conte's 5-Star Movement-League executive has said an
expansive budget is needed to finance key pledges and boost
sluggish growth.
After initially ruling out make substantial changes to the
package, the government has recently indicated it could amend
it, amid reports it could be willing to bring the deficit down
to around the 2% mark.
Moscovici said the Commission has "taken note" of Italy's
intention to reduce the deficit.
"We are waiting for further details... because there must be
a credible, concrete commitment within the framework of the
rules," he said.
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