Talks open 'new phase' for regions-govt

(see related) (ANSA) - Rome, October 23 - Piedmont Governor Sergio Chiamparino, the head of the conference of Italy's regional governments, said that Thursday's talks with Premier Matteo Renzi 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".