European Commission Vice
President Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday that the EU executive
had no choice but to reject Italy's budget plan.
"I'm very sorry to be here today," Dombrovskis told a press
conference after a meeting of commissioners.
"For the first time the Commission is forced to request a
State to revise its budget plan document. But we don't see any
alternatives. Unfortunately, the clarification received
yesterday was not convincing".
Dombrovskis said "the Italian government is openly and
consciously going against the commitments made towards itself
and towards the other member States" after rejecting the 2019
budget.
In May the European Commission decided not to open an
infraction procedure for excessive debt "because Italy was
substantially in line with the rules" but "the current plans are
a material change that could require a revaluation", Dombrovskis
said, saying "the ball is now in the Italian government's court,
we have three weeks for an intense dialogue which we face in a
constructive way".
Dombrovskis said "breaking the rules may seem a temptation at
first glance, it may give the illusion of getting off without
consequences", just like trying "to cut the debt with more
debt", but "at a certain point the the debt gets so close that
it becomes too heavy and ends up not having freedom for all".
He said "we have been tasked by all member States with
maintaining the common commitments", it is "our duty", because
"confidence is crucial".
Dombrovskis said the Italian budget plan risked harming the
whole bloc as he explained the decision to give the package the
thumbs down.
"Europe is built on cooperation. The eurozone is built on
close bonds of trust... with rules that are the same for
everyone," Dombrovskis told a press conference.
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