EU rules don't permit anti-crisis moves (3)

(ANSA) - Rome, February 22 - Economy Minister Giovanni Tria said Friday that European Union rules "hastily approved almost a decade ago may work during periods of growth but do not respond to the need to face the swift slowdown now happening." Speaking at the opening of the academic year at Rome's Tor Vergata University, Tria said the rules should be revised "because they do not allow to take into account the changeability of economic conditions and therefore prevent discretional adjustments of policies and end up acting in a pro-cyclical or even structurally deflationary direction",