No EC skepticism on Italy budget (2)

(ANSA) - Frankfurt, October 21 - The European Commission "has expressed no skepticism" on Italy's 2017 budget, Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said Friday. "The dialogue is ongoing," the minister said on the sidelines of a university conference in Frankfurt. "We're following a procedure involving precise and specific assessments of the various (budget) measures.... It's not an overall matter of (the EU having) a skeptical attitude (about Italy's budget)".
    "The debate is very constructive," Padoan added.
    "As in our previous budgets, the (2017 one) combines growth opportunities that stimulate public and private investments while continuing the process of... cutting the deficit and increasing the GDP growth rate," the finance minister explained.
    "This year we must account for exceptional circumstances such as the (August 24) earthquake, which was devastating, and migratory pressures which are climbing, unfortunately," Padoan said.