Fully respect EU deficit rules - Padoan (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, September 28 - Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said Wednesday the government would ask parliament for authorisation to ask the EU to be allowed to expand next year's budget deficit by 0.4% to 2.4% for spending on the central Italian earthquake and the migrant emergency. Speaking to TG2, he said "we will do this in agreement with the EU authorities, we will go ahead as always with full respect for the EU rules and accords". The government intends to ask the EU for 'flexibility' to the tune of 0.4% which is envisaged in the Stability Pact for exceptional circumstances such as the August 24 quake that devastated villages in central Italy and the ongoing emergency of coping with the influx of thousands of migrants and refugees.