Italy does not want to change the basic income and lower the retirement age Now

Italy does not change its position on the main points of the budget. That's what Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio said at a press conference Friday.

"We have made promises and we will keep those promises to remain a credible country," Di Maio said. The leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S) added that the introduction of the proposed basic income and the lowering of the retirement age are not deferred.

The European Commission published an estimate of the expected growth of the European economies on Thursday in the autumn. The growth of the Italian economy has been revised downwards

A larger budget deficit was also forecast: according to Brussels, 2.9% of GDP in 2019, while the draft budget of Rome was 2 , 4%.

Di Maio expects the figures in the draft budget to be correct. According to him, the budget deficit of 2.4% will be reached because of the expected economic growth and the reduction of public spending.

The struggle between Brussels and Rome continues

Brussels and Rome are already involved in a struggle for the budget of Italy. The European Commission has refused a first version of the budget because of the projected budget deficit. For the Commission, it was the first time that a budget was rejected.

According to Brussels, the current Italian draft budget is not doing enough to reduce the burden of debt. At present, the debt exceeds 131% of GDP.

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