Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano
on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of Rome passing measures
that could threaten growth after the European Commission
requested an adjustment in its structural deficit.
"It's an important moment because we are returning to the
path of growth and so we can't let them put sandbags on the path
of growth," Alfano said on the fringes on a conference for
industrial employers association Confindustria.
"Our response can only be negative... we cannot accept a
budget that depresses the glimmers of growth".
The European Commission has asked Italy for an extra budget
cut equivalent to 0.2% of GDP, or about 3.4 billion euros, or
risk an infringement procedure.
Premier Paolo Gentiloni and Economy Minister Pier Carlo
Padoan have also come out against what they called an
"extemporaneous" supplementary budget that would cramp growth
potential.
They have stressed the need for the EU to take into full
consideration the extra costs Italy has had to bear for recent
earthquakes in central Italy.
Italy must reply to the EC's letter by tomorrow outlining the
measures it means to take.
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