The Italian Senate on Wednesday approved Premier Matteo Renzi's program for this week's meetings of European leaders with the outgoing European Commission.
Renzi's program, which was approved by a vote of 152 in favour, 107 opposed and four abstentions, came as the premier congratulated the new European Commission and its leader Jean-Claude Juncker, the former Luxembourg premier.
"Best wishes for your work to the new commission and to Mr. Juncker, from my heart and on behalf of the Italian government," said Renzi after speaking to the Senate.
Renzi said the new commission, which takes over in November, is facing "an important task at a time of particular difficulty but also of great opportunity". The new EC that was approved earlier in the day by the European Parliament includes Italy's Federica Mogherini as high representative for foreign affairs. Italy has been lobbying the commission to relax its budget restrictions to allow countries more leeway in how it calculates its deficit during the current tough economic times in much of Europe.
European heads of state are expected to discuss economics along with energy issues in meetings this week with the outgoing European Commission in Brussels.
Renzi told the Senate that many of the same issues facing the outgoing board will remain challenges for the new commission.
"The main questions being discussed with our European partners, those called for and stressed by the Italian duty presidency (of the EU), will be fully addressed by the new commission," he said. There is speculation that one of the last acts of the outgoing commission will be to ask Rome to make corrections to its 2015 budget plan delivered last week by Renzi.
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