Premier Matteo Renzi on
Wednesday blasted European Union-mandated austerity as a big
mistake, saying public investment was needed.
"We wasted too much time because some thought the the
culture of austerity should win and so public investments in
Italy were halved, with suicidal philosophical reasoning that
led to a 20 billion euro reduction in funding," Renzi said
during a visit to Caltanissetta.
"We won't let Italy make the mistakes of the past when it
was decided that public works should be cut. "Those who cut
public works cut their own future, their opportunity to grow".
Renzi added that Italy would keep flying the European Union
flag but added that the bloc must do its part and promote growth
and investment. "We are conducting a battle in Europe," Renzi
said as he visited a work site for the Agrigento-Caltanissetta
state highway in Sicily. "The flag of Europe is here with us and
we keep it by our side, but Europe must do its job, which is to
promote growth, not just austerity, and to invest in the future,
not just in bureaucracy".
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