We'll have to ask Italy for corrections

(ANSA) - Brussels, October 17 - European Budget Commissioner Guenther Oettinger on Wednesday clarified remarks reported by Der Spiegel that Italy's budget will be rejected, saying it was his "personal opinion, based on the numbers, that is it very likely that we will have to ask Italy to correct the draft budget." He stressed "I did not say there was a decision by the Commission on Italy, nor that the letter with the rejection (of the budget) will be sent on Thursday or Friday".
    Earlier Der Spiegel online reported that Oettinger had told it the European Commission will reject Italy's budget bill. The magazine said a letter from Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici should arrive in Rome on Thursday or Friday.
    Oettinger said "the hypothesis that the 2019 budget draft is not reconcilable with the EU's existing obligations has been confirmed." Moscovici will not make a counter-proposal, Der Speigel said, but will restrict himself to pointing out the violations of the reference data.
    Rome sent the budget draft to the EC on Tuesday night, at the last minute, Der Spiegel said.
    The EC is reacting unusually quickly, it said, since it had two weeks to reply.
    Italy will now have to present a new draft, the magazine said.