Seeking flexibility deal with Italy (2)

(ANSA) - Brussels, May 3 - The European Commission is seeking a deal with Italy on granting budget flexibility allowed by the Stability Pact, Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Tuesday. He said he could not comment on the results of the EC's assessment of the Italian government's 2016 budget, which is "still ongoing". He said "we have had a lot of contacts with our Italian friends, I have met (Economy Minister Pier Carlo) Padoan more than 10 times and that shows we are paying the utmost attention to the Italian situation and are trying to find an agreement". Moscovici said the decision on Italian flexibility would be "based on the rules, but intelligent".