EU yes to flexibility but short-term (2)

(ANSA) - Brussels, August 29 - The European Commission is ready to grant budget flexibility for earthquake spending, but only in the short term as was done for the Abruzzo and Emilia quakes in 2009 and 2012, an EC spokesman said Monday when asked if Brussels would OK flexibility for a long-term plan to make Italy safe quake-proof. The August 24 6.2-magnitude quake that hit central Italy killing 290 people has renewed calls for a multi-billion-euro plan for sweeping anti-seismic construction and renovation.