Italy expects flexibility 'since Libya crisis began'

(ANSA) - Brussels, February 3 - Italy has given its OK to a three-billion-euro fund for refugees in Turkey and expects the European Commission to free its spending since the beginning of the Libya crisis from deficit constraints in return, Italy said in a statement attached to its decision Wednesday.
    European Affairs Undersecretary Sandro Gozi earlier echoed this by saying Italy expects the European Commission to respect budget flexibility rules with regards to its spending on the migrant emergency.
    "At the same time as it confirmed it would OK the fund for refugees in Turkey, Italy made it clear that this exceptional event cannot affect just one part of the Mediterranean," Gozi told the Lower House EU policies committee.
    "Spending on managing the migratory flow from North Africa must be assessed with the same norms and the same interpretation," Gozi told lawmakers.