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Asked whether the government was concerned that
the Commission could order Italy to revise its plans, Graziano
Delrio, Renzi's chief of staff, said the country's budget plans
corresponded with the worsening economic climate.
"We're not worried, we know that there is a slight correction
from the trend forecasts, but we believe the economic situation
warrants it," Delrio told reporters in Milan.
"It's obvious that the Italian budget is influenced by this
factor, and despite that, Italy continues to respect the 3
percent," he said, referring to the EU's deficit limit of 3
percent of GDP.
Italy's Stability Programme, unveiled by the government last
month, raised its targets for the budget deficit and put back by
one year a commitment to balance the budget when adjusted for
the effects of the business cycle and one-off items.
In its previous Stability Programme last year Rome had pledged
to balance its budget in 2015, only to delay that goal to 2016
in April.
Italy must present its definitive Stability Programme to
Brussels by the middle of this month.
A source close to the Commission told Reuters this week that the
plan was unlikely to be approved as it stood.
(Reporting by Elvira Pollina; Writing by James Mackenzie;
Editing by Catherine EvansEditing by Catherine Evans)
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