Premier Matteo Renzi
reiterated Tuesday that he is not worried about European Union
scrutiny of his government's draft budget for 2017.
Rome is expected to receive a letter from the European
Commission on Tuesday requesting clarification about various
aspects of the budget.
Renzi has said that Rome does not intend to make major
changes to the budget plan and argues that the EU should be
doing more to help Italy cope with the Mediterranean migrant
crisis.
The EU communication is expected to request more
information on the planned deficit-to-GDP ratio of 2.3% next
year, the number of one-off measures, and financing for the
government's anti-seismic plan after the August 24 earthquake
that devastated parts of central Italy.
"To the people in Brussels who would look to put us
through a fine tooth comb for our spending on the quake, I say
that we are respecting all of the rules," Renzi commented.
"That includes those (rules) necessary to resolve the
problems created by selfishness, such as immigration".
The premier added that he had told Italy's city mayors to
spend what they needed to make sure school buildings were safe.
"The stability of Italian schools comes before the
stability of European bureaucrats," he said.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
