Economy Minister Giovanni
Tria said Monday that the European Union should not worry about
Italy's commitment to bringing down its big public debt after
the government said last week it intends to let the deficit rise
to 2.4% of GDP.
"Now I'll try to explain what is happening and how the budget
is formulated," Tria told reporters on the way into a Eurogroup
meeting, adding that Italy's European partners should be
"tranquil".
"The debt-to-GDP ratio will come down (in 2019)," he said.
After the meeting, Eurogroup President Mario Centeno said the
Italian government must show it has a "credible" budget.
"The situation of Italy was not on the agenda," he said, but
the 2.4% deficit-to-GDP ratio unveiled by the government
"aroused concerns that must be faced immediately".
He said had "given explanations, we had a good exchange.
"We all agree what is at stake.
"It's up to the government to show it has a credible and
sustainable budget".
The Eurogroup is "concerned" about Italy's 2019 budget bill
and has asked Tria for details, Centeno said.
The budget numbers "present concerns, and the Eurogroup
members expressed these concerns to Minister Tria," he said.
To make an "overall" assessment of the budget, he said,
"we'll have to wait until Italy presents all the figures.
"But the mathematics isn't hard, that's why I mentioned
concerns".
Earlier, European Commission Vice President for the Euro
Valdis
Dombrovskis said that "at first sight" Italy's budget
plans "do not appear compatible with the rules of the (Stability
and Growth) Pact".
The planned budget sets a 2.4% deficit to GDP ratio for the
next three years, up from a previous target of 0.8% for next
year.
"For the moment what I know is that the deficit of 2.4% not
only for next year but for three years, represents a very, very
significant deviation with respect to agreements made" by Italy,
European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told
reporters on his way into the Eurogroup meeting.
French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire also expressed
concern, even though Paris is set to have an even bigger
deficit.
"The rules are there and they are the same for everyone
because the futures (of the eurozone countries) are linked," Le
Maire said.
"We are reducing our debt, respecting the rules, and we are
under the 3% (deficit-to-GDP threshold) to satisfy the European
Commission because we believe reducing public debt and
introducing reforms is good for the French people".
Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero, on the other hand,
stressed that it was necessary to stimulate economic growth to
make it possible to bring down Italy's public debt of over two
trillion euros.
"The burden of public debt that Italy has been carrying for
years should be reduced," Moavero said at the presentation of a
report by construction association ANCE at the foreign ministry
in Rome.
"We must do this out of respect for the new generations.
"Italy must grow and improve its gross domestic product to
reduce it".
Premier Giuseppe Conte, who had talks with President Sergio
Mattarelal Monday, said that his government's budget plans will
foster growth while keeping the State accounts in order.
"We have laid down the foundation for a serious, courageous
budget, which looks towards growth within a framework of
stability in the public accounts," Conte said on Facebook.
"(It is) a budget that aims to offer responses to widespread
poverty, to pensioners, to families, to savers harmed by the
bank crises, which does not take one euro away from social
services or health.
"A budget that starts to lower taxes and sets its sights on
the biggest investment plan in the history of the Italian
republic.
"A budget that will be a turning point for the revival of the
country and for social development".
The Milan bourse shed 0.49% and the Italian-German 10-year
bond spread rose to 282 points after the EU officials took a dim
view of Italy's budget plans.
The yield on the Italian BTP shot up to 3.29%.
Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio, leader of the
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) said "there are some
European institutions which, with their statements, are playing
at terrorism on the markets".
Di Maio, who is also labour and industry minister, said
"someone this morning didn't like the fact that the spread had
not rocketed.
"Moscovici, who isn't Italian, woke up and decided to make a
statement against Italy, against the Italian (economic
blueprint) DEF, and create tension on the markets".
Di Maio added that "Luckily the bourse is about to close.
From tomorrow we will continue to explain that 2.4% is a measure
very far off what others did."
He said "it's only that if the M5S and the League does it
it's not OK".
Di Maio stressed "there's no reason to call into question"
the planned 2.4% budget deficit-to-GDP ratio for the next three
years contained in Italy's budget plan.
"We're all convinced, the government is united," he said.
The government will "engage in dialogue" with the EU over its
2019 budget, Di Maio said, voicing confidence the EU would "say
yes".
"My idea is that we must dialogue to the maximum with the EU
and I'm sure the EU will say yes to us," when the government
explains the budget, he said.
"I don't want to clash (with the EU)," said Di Maio, who is
also labour and industry minister.
"In any case in May today's Commission will not be there any
more, the European elections will be another earthquake like the
one that happened in Italy".
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