Italy resolves budget differences, seeks 'constructive' talks with EU

Italy resolves budget differences, seeks 'constructive' talks with EU
By Reuters
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Italy's ruling coalition has patched up a row over a tax amnesty and struck a more conciliatory tone towards the EU.

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Italy's ruling coalition says it has resolved its differences over a controversial tax amnesty and now wants constructive talks with the European Union despite approving a budget that breaks EU rules.

The coalition included the tax amnesty in measures to fund costly electoral promises that are set to lift the budget deficit to 2.4% of domestic output next year, flouting European Union rules that require progress towards a balanced budget.

Earlier this week, Italy brushed off criticism from Brussels over a draft budget it labelled an "unprecedented" breach of EU rules.

But speaking after a cabinet meeting that settled the amnesty dispute, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Italy had "a comfortable place" in Europe.

He said he would visit EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in the near future to discuss the issue.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said Italy had no intention of leaving the EU or the Euro zone.

"There is not and there will not be any intention to leave the European Union or to leave the Euro system,’’ he said. “We are comfortable in this continent.’’

The government's spending plans prompted a credit downgrade by Moody's on Friday, which cut Italy's sovereign debt rating to one notch above junk status.

The League and the 5-Star Movement, the two parties in the coalition, had been at odds over widening the proposed tax amnesty to shield financial criminals, including money launderers.

Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio had accused the League of tricking its coalition partner by surreptitiously broadening the scope of the amnesty in the final draft of the 2019 budget.

But Salvini offered to drop the measure and a compromise was hammered out at a coalition meeting on Saturday.

The proposed budget still contravenes EU regulations and the government has until midday on Monday to respond to EU concerns.

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