In short: the Italian budget is also a "danger for others"

"Breaking these rules (…) means that Italy is putting itself in danger, but of course putting others at risk," Kurz continued. "As the European Union, we are not willing to accept the risk of assuming this debt for Italy," said Finance Minister Hartwig Löger (ÖVP). "We need discipline and consistency here," Löger said Friday. The European Commission has to give a clear answer to the Rome government.

The European Commission had strongly criticized Rome in a letter. The EU's supervisory authority complains of serious violations of the rules of the euro area. The new debt projects represent an unprecedented gap compared to the criteria of the stability pact, wrote the European Commissioners responsible.

Dispute over double pass

Meanwhile, Austria and Italy meet with double passes for women from South Tyrol and South Tyrol. Vice Chancellor and FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache said this week that the federal government would implement dual citizenship under the government's program for South Tyroleans. Even if there is "no great jubilation", they will realize that "agree with Italy," Strache said Monday at a conference of South Tyrol Freedom press in Bolzano. Sunday in South Tyrol is a regional election.

The Italian Government is opposed to the Austrian double passport project. Recently, the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini, took the floor. Austria decided who would get citizenship – Italy having not asked Croatia and Slovenia, when the Italians had given citizenship, Strache said.

In short: Austria is not alone in the budget dispute

Thursday already, Kurz criticized Italy. "I have no idea of ​​the projected budget sent from Italy to Brussels, we will certainly not pay for the debts of others in Austria and for the populist left-wing election promises," Kurz said.

EU guidelines on deficits and total debt should apply to all. Over-indebtedness could be dangerous not only for Italy but for Europe as a whole. Austria was not alone with its critics, Kurz said. The Netherlands, other EU Member States and the EU Commission shared this idea.

Italy has a new deadline

At the same time, in the Bugdetstreit case, the European Commission, Italy, has granted a deadline until Monday to address concerns. More specifically, this is the new debt expected. In the draft budget sent to Brussels by the government coalition of the right-wing populist Lega and the five-star populist movement, it is three times higher than that authorized by the EU. Behind this lies the problem of total Italian debt, which accounts for 131% of economic output. The country has to pay high interest rates to borrow new loans. In the countries of the euro area, this figure is higher than in Greece.

Stop with flexibility

The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, of the Forza Italia opposition, made it clear that the budget was "not good". There is "no investment, no support for small and medium enterprises, no infrastructure, only state aid, and as an Italian politician, I am against it," Tajani said.

At the EU summit in Brussels, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "We have not been opposed to Italy since the beginning – there are four, five or six where we turn to governments for additional information, "he said. In recent years, Italy has repeatedly used the instruments of the European Stability Pact.

Juncker now concludes with flexibility: "We do not want to be even more flexible with the existing flexibilities.Italy has spent more than 30 billion euros over the past three years without any sanction.We were very friendly and positive about the Italian problems. "

"The more time passes, the better I think it is"

Italian Prime Minister Conte was not impressed. "We knew that this budget, which we had prepared for (…) the needs of Italian citizens, did not meet the expectations of the European Commission, but the more time passes, the more I find our budget," he said. he declares. , It does not seem to worry: "The EU is also likely to send letters to Spain, France and Portugal," Conté said Thursday. At the same time, he announced Saturday a meeting of the Italian government on budget and tax issues.

As far as the budget is concerned, there seems to be an explanation not only between Rome and Brussels, but also within the government. After strongly criticizing an amnesty for tax evaders, the ruling five-star movement rejected all responsibility. The tax package was presented to President Sergio Mattarella in a "manipulated" version, said Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio of the five-star movement.

The government bill provides an amnesty for tax evaders who took their capital abroad without taxing it. This tax amnesty had never accepted his five-star move, it was not included in the draft budget approved by the Cabinet, Di Maio said. Coalition partner Lega rejected allegations of manipulation. "We are loyal people and do not handle tax packages."