Italy's Economy Minister Pier
Carlo Padoan on Friday defended the government's draft 2017
budget law, saying it had been "drawn up in compliance with
European rules".
"Furthermore, we increased the deficit after asking and
obtaining authorisation from parliament in order to meet
expenses caused by exceptional circumstances, particularly
post-earthquake reconstruction and support for spending to
tackle the large and growing flow of migrants arriving in our
country because they want to enter Europe," Padoan said in a
video posted to the ministry's official Twitter account.
The government on Thursday responded to the European
Commission's request for clarification on its draft 2017 budget
plan concerning "(deficit spending for) earthquake
reconstruction and the migrant emergency".
The budget raises the deficit-to-GDP ratio to 2.3% to
accommodate estimated emergency spending respectively of 2.8
billion euros and 3.8 billion euros on these two items.
The European Commission said Friday that it had received
Italy's response and those from four other countries.
"Analysis continues for these member States and for the
others, as does dialogue with the capitals," the spokesperson
said. "We will not make any further comment".
Padoan also denied that tax reduction is a one-off event
or campaign slogan in view of the upcoming constitutional
referendum on December 4.
"This budget law continues in the same direction taken by
the government at the start of its activity: support for
investment, tax reduction, support for families and
stabilisation of public dept, as well as reduction of the
spending deficit," the minister said.
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