No alternative to budget rejection - EC

(ANSA) - Brussels, October 23 - European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday that the EU executive had no choice but to reject Italy's budget plan. "I'm very sorry to be here today," Dombrovskis told a press conference after a meeting of commissioners. "For the first time the Commission is forced to request a State to revise its budget plan document. But we don't see any alternatives. Unfortunately, the clarification received yesterday was not convincing".
    Dombrovskis said "the Italian government is openly and consciously going against the commitments made towards itself and towards the other member States" after rejecting the 2019 budget. In May the European Commission decided not to open an infraction procedure for excessive debt "because Italy was substantially in line with the rules" but "the current plans are a material change that could require a revaluation", Dombrovskis said, saying "the ball is now in the Italian government's court, we have three weeks for an intense dialogue which we face in a constructive way".
    Dombrovskis said "breaking the rules may seem a temptation at first glance, it may give the illusion of getting off without consequences", just like trying "to cut the debt with more debt", but "at a certain point the the debt gets so close that it becomes too heavy and ends up not having freedom for all". He said "we have been tasked by all member States with maintaining the common commitments", it is "our duty", because "confidence is crucial".
    Dombrovskis said the Italian budget plan risked harming the whole bloc as he explained the decision to give the package the thumbs down. "Europe is built on cooperation. The eurozone is built on close bonds of trust... with rules that are the same for everyone," Dombrovskis told a press conference.