Europe is concerned over Italy's
economic "regression", European Commission President Jean-Claude
Juncker told Premier Giuseppe Conte in Rome Tuesday.
Rome must make "further efforts" to stoke growth, the EC
chief told the Italian premier.
In other remarks, Juncker recognised Italy was coping with a
heavy migrant burden and said the EU should show greater
solidarity.
Conte reacted by saying "the economic slowdown was forecast"
and that the framework of the DEF economic blueprint "will not
change."
He said he was counting on approving by the end of the week a
growth decree "with measures able to give impetus to growth both
effective and potential".
On migrants, he said coordination of coast guards was no use
unless burden sharing changed.
Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini said in response to Juncker's
concern over an Italian economic "regression" that "if we'd
listened to Europe we'd be in our underpants now".
He said that "in the last few years European bureaucrats have
damaged the Italian economy...
"Luckily, on May 26 (at the EP elections) things will
change," he said.
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