The news, through indiscretions, arrived during the night: in today's Ecofin meeting, Italy will announce its yes to the taxation of financial transactions through enhanced cooperation. From the Italian side there has been neither a confirmation nor a denial. Economy Minister Vittorio Grilli, at the end of the Eurogroup meeting, invited journalists to listen to this morning's discussion at Ecofin (public).
But it was the French minister Pierre Moscovici who indicated that he had had 'a nice conversation' with Grilli and that he hoped that today there would be '9 countries' in favor of the so-called Tobin tax. 'The interested parties have the task of confirming', he added. As of yesterday evening there were eight governments in favour: France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Slovenia, Austria, Greece, Estonia. At least 9 countries are needed to proceed with enhanced cooperation.
