No reduction in spending cuts, Renzi tells regions

(ANSA) - Rome, October 23 - Premier Matteo Renzi told representatives of Italy's regional governments Thursday that his executive would not back down on demands that they cut spending by four billion euros next year, sources at the meeting said. But the premier added that he was willing to study their proposals on how to come up with the savings, as part of 15 billion euros in spending cuts featured in the government's 2015 budget bill. "There is no space for mediation, the figure is four billion," Renzi said, according to the sources. "There are two roads from here - a clash or the alternative proposals that we are working on". Renzi said a system to standardise costs across the nation of some goods that the regions purchase, such as medical equipment, to avoid the waste highlighted by massive regional variations was one road that could be taken. "If you're willing to work on standard costs, so am I," Renzi said.
    "If you have a serious, rigorous proposal, we are up for it". The meeting was called to try to agree on where the cuts can be made without slashing services or raising local taxes.
Piedmont Governor Sergio Chiamparino, the head of the conference of Italy's regional governments, said that Thursday's talks marked the start of a new phase on relations with the executive. "Today's meeting opens a new phase," said Chiamparino, a member of Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD). "When you talk together and, above all, work together, it is always a good premise towards finding a solution. We are confident that we can made this budget sustainable". Chiamparino led the howls of protests from the regions when the government first presented its 2015 budget bill, saying demands for them to provide four billion of the 15 billion euros in spending cuts planned were "unsustainable".