(ANSA) - Rome, February 20 - Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan attended an important Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Padoan is preparing measures designed to raise around 3.4 billion euros after the European Commission demanded Italy deliver a reduction in its structural deficit of 0.2% of GDP.
He met Premier Paolo Gentiloni on Monday at the premier's office at Palazzo Chigi to discuss issues relating to the meeting of eurozone finance ministers before Padoan left for Brussels, sources said.
An expected improvement in GDP forecasts won't change the size of the budget adjustment asked of Italy by the EU, Padoan said Monday. "The adjustment is structural and therefore any possible improvements in forecasts, which may be expected, will have no impact on the structural adjustment", he said.