The EU Commission has received the letter from the Italian government in response to Brussels‘ recommendation to the EU Member States to initiate proceedings against Italy over its excessive budget deficit. „The letter is now being examined,“ said a spokesman for the European Commission, according to Italian media.
A criminal procedure on the basis of a „questionable assessment“ by the EU Commission is incomprehensible, said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in a letter to the 27 other EU countries, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Council President Donald Tusk, published today Rome had sent to Brussels late last night.
Italy is calling for changes
It is important for the EU to rethink its „development and growth model,“ Conte continued. This model is unable to find answers to the challenge of „impoverished societies“ that grow in distrust and disappointment. „I think it is our duty to initiate a constituent phase to rewrite the governmental rules of our societies and economies.“
Italy expects a lower deficit for the current year than the forecasts of the EU Commission show. Government-mandated reforms such as the basic income and pension reform introduced in April were less costly than expected, Conte said in his letter. The tax revenues would also be higher than planned.
Conte assured that Italy did not want to evade his duties. At the same time, the Italian government in Brussels will work to change the EU rules. The goal is to combine growth and financial discipline with social justice.
