Don't be short-sighted Conte tells EU

(ANSA) - Rome, December 11 - Premier Giuseppe Conte said Tuesday that the European Commission should not be short-sighted as talks between the EU and Italian government over Rome's budget plan for 2019 reach a crucial phase. The European Commission has rejected Rome's budget plan for 2019, which sees Italy running a deficit of 2.4% of GDP next year, saying it breaks EU rules. Conte's 5-Star Movement (M5S)-League executive has said an expansive budget is needed to finance key pledges and boost sluggish growth. The government has recently indicated it could amend the package to reach an agreement to avert an EU infringement procedure. "Wearing out the reform effort of the government would be a short-sighted strategy," Conte told the Lower House ahead of this week's European summit.
    "An attempt to repress demands that, nevertheless, remain alive in our society could see them come back in the near future in forms that it is difficult to foresee". Conte is set to meet European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for talks before the summit on Wednesday. "I won't go to Brussels with a book of dreams but with the full spectrum of the government's reform project," Conte said.
    "I will discuss the figures with the knowledge that the budget responds to the needs of the country, within the European limits. "If we are here today, it is to satisfy the concrete needs of the citizens, to defend those who see their life prospects plummeting, who have children who are lost to existential insecurity...
    "If we want to avoid protests, we have to act now to bring the goal of financial stability in line with social stability".