EP Socialists says all deals with EPP could be off

(ANSA) - Strasbourg, July 2 - European Parliament Socialist caucus leader Gianni Pittella said Wednesday all deals are off if the European People's Party reneges on an agreement to allow for flexibility for growth spending within the European stability pact.
    "If flexibility is no longer on the table, it will be difficult for us to vote for (Jean-Claude) Juncker", Pittella said in reference to the candidacy of the former prime minister of Luxembourg to lead the European Commission.
    EPP whip Manfred Weber, who is from Germany's conservative Christian Social Union party, earlier chastised Italy for allegedly seeking too much wiggle room for growth as it took up its duty semester presidency of the European Union.
    Weber insisted on the need to cleave to fiscal discipline to cut debts, rather than thinking of limited expansionary spending as envisaged by the stability and growth pact. Pittella said Weber's words were "a bad move, which could put the collaboration of our parties at risk".