European Parliament Socialist
caucus leader Gianni Pittella said Wednesday all deals are off
if the European People's Party reneges on an agreement to allow
for flexibility for growth spending within the European
stability pact.
"If flexibility is no longer on the table, it will be
difficult for us to vote for (Jean-Claude) Juncker", Pittella
said in reference to the candidacy of the former prime minister
of Luxembourg to lead the European Commission.
EPP whip Manfred Weber, who is from Germany's conservative
Christian Social Union party, earlier chastised Italy for
allegedly seeking too much wiggle room for growth as it took up
its duty semester presidency of the European Union.
Weber insisted on the need to cleave to fiscal discipline
to cut debts, rather than thinking of limited expansionary
spending as envisaged by the stability and growth pact.
Pittella said Weber's words were "a bad move, which could
put the collaboration of our parties at risk".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
