Italy’s reply to EU concerns on budget sent – EU concerns on France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Slovenia’s budgets expressed

Italy’s reply to the concerns raised over its planned budget by the European Commission arrived in Brussels on Monday, a spokesman said.

The EU executive is expected to discuss the responses on Tuesday before the commission decides if it will ask for tweaks in the draft spending plan, which raised fears in Europe it could destabilise the eurozone’s third largest economy in a splurge on welfare.

Earlier on Friday, the European Commission told France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Slovenia that their 2019 budget proposals did not meet recommended targets for cutting longer-term deficit cycles.

EU Observer / New Europe