Renzi 'surprised' at Hill wording on banks (2)

(ANSA) - Brussels, December 18 - Premier Matteo Renzi said Friday he is surprised EU Financial Stability Commissioner Jonathan Hill said Italy decided to bail out four of its smaller banks. "I find Commissioner Hill's wording strange when he says Italy was the one who decided," the premier said at the close of an EU summit in Brussels. "We did what the Commission told us to do - we received his letter telling us what to do and what not to do. Italy respects all European rules and bets its reputation on this respect," Renzi continued.
    "Unfortunately in the past Italian governments lasted less time than a cat on a highway. Now it's different, respecting the rules is a point of honor for us".