Italy needs mixture of caution and investment says Gentiloni

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 11 - Italy needs a good mixture of caution and investments as it tries to buoy its economy against recessive threats, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said Friday.
    Italy has had a "very consistent growth" after the crisis caused by Covid-19, so a "slowdown" after the rebound is "predictable"., said the former Italian premier.
    Now the challenge, he said on the sidelines of the presentation of the Commission's economic forecasts, is "how to continue with responsible and cautious fiscal policies, ensuring a good mix of caution and investment".
    "We were a bit used to the narrative of the country (Italy) lagging behind, "Gentiloni went on.
    "Italy is not lagging behind, it ends 2022 with a rather consistent growth. But Italy will also suffer, according to our forecasts, a slowdown next year.
    "More than ever, the ability of the production system, of the business world, to continue to innovate and bet on the country is important for us".
    "Italy needs caution but also a certain amount of optimism that fortunately our companies have never lost".
    With regard to the tensions between Italy and France over migrants "as an Italian and as a European commissioner" I can say that "the fact that there are good relations between these two great countries is fundamental.
    "So the hope on my part and ours as a Commission is that these difficulties are overcome as soon as possible in compliance with European principles and rules". (ANSA).