European Economic Affairs
Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Thursday that Rome and
Brussels have the "shared intention to reach an agreement" over
Italy's budget for 2019.
Moscovici was speaking after fresh talks following a meeting
on Wednesday between Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte and
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
At that meeting Conte proposed setting Italy's deficit target
to 2.04% of GDP next year, rather than the 2.4% pencilled in in
the government's draft budget plan, in a bid to stop the EU
opening an infringement procedure.
Moscovici said the dialogue was "constructive".
"We don't want to end up with a procedure," he added.
"When I said (earlier on Thursday) that we are not there yet,
I meant that we have not yet concluded the talks".
He said that Italy's effort to cut its deficit target for
next year was "considerable" and "commendable".
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