Premier Giuseppe Conte said
Tuesday that the European Commission should not be short-sighted
as talks between the EU and Italian government over Rome's
budget plan for 2019 reach a crucial phase.
The European Commission has rejected Rome's budget plan for
2019, which sees Italy running a deficit of 2.4% of GDP next
year, saying it breaks EU rules.
Conte's 5-Star Movement (M5S)-League executive has said an
expansive budget is needed to finance key pledges and boost
sluggish growth.
The government has recently indicated it could amend the
package to reach an agreement to avert an EU infringement
procedure.
"Wearing out the reform effort of the government would be a
short-sighted strategy," Conte told the Lower House ahead of
this week's European summit.
"An attempt to repress demands that, nevertheless, remain
alive in our society could see them come back in the near future
in forms that it is difficult to foresee".
Conte is set to meet European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker for talks before the summit on Wednesday.
"I won't go to Brussels with a book of dreams but with the
full spectrum of the government's reform project," Conte said.
"I will discuss the figures with the knowledge that the
budget responds to the needs of the country, within the European
limits.
"If we are here today, it is to satisfy the concrete needs of
the citizens, to defend those who see their life prospects
plummeting, who have children who are lost to existential
insecurity...
"If we want to avoid protests, we have to act now to bring
the goal of financial stability in line with social stability".
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