EU not resigned to Italy no to ESM reform - source

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 9 - The European Union is not resigned to Italy's refusal to ratify the reform of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) bailout fund, an EU sources said on Tuesday.
    "We are not giving up," the European official said ahead of Thursday's Eurogroup meeting "In general if, at some point, you realise that you are failing in your efforts, you have to consider trying something else. But we are not there yet.
    "It would be absolutely welcome if political will in Italy changed and we were able to convince our Italian friends.
    "So we are not giving up.
    "If there is an opportunity this summer to still seek a positive solution to the problem, that would be, by far, the best option for everyone." Italy is the only eurozone country not to have approved the new treaty despite coming under significant pressure from Europe to do so.
    Premier Giorgia Meloni said a December vote in the Lower House to reject ratification of the reform was an opportunity to reopen discussion in order to make the fund more effective.
    The reform is controversial here due to concerns about its impact on budget sovereignty and Meloni's government has also said the ESM's resources should be harnessed for growth. (ANSA).