Italy expects the European
Commission to respect rules on budget flexibility for spending
related to the immigration crisis, EU Affairs Undersecretary
Sando Gozi on Wednesday told the Lower House's political
commissions, presenting the country's 2016 European agenda.
"Italy, once it confirmed its OK to the fund for refugees
in Turkey, clarified that the exceptional event cannot only
concern a part of the Mediterranean", Gozi said.
"Expenses in managing the migration flow" from North Africa
"need to be evaluated according to the same rules and the same
interpretation", he added.
Earlier on Wednesday European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker said Italy was willing to make its
contribution to three billion euros in EU aid to Turkey in
exchange for cooperation on the refugee crisis.
The Commission had criticised Italian Premier Matteo
Renzi's executive for allegedly holding up the aid package.
The Commission is expected to announce in the spring
whether it has granted Italy's request for flexibility in the
application of the EU's budget laws for spending related to
asylum seekers.
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