"We must not minimize, but neither dramatize." With these words the European commissioner for the economy, Pierre Moscovici, tries to calm the controversies that arose after the sending of the letters by the European Commission to Italy and to six other countries. These communications on budget documents, underlined the former French minister, "are part of the normal dialogue" between Brussels and the governments in this phase of the European semester. "This Commission does not consider the stick and punishments its philosophy" and "there is a device" of procedural stages whereby "if we can avoid punishments it is always better", stated the Eurocommissioner.
In the letter addressed to Rome, the Commission - in addition to some changes to the coverage linked to one-off measures - asked for clarifications on the expenses for migrants and the earthquake and on the deviation from the deficit/GDP objectives. More by tomorrow.
Matteo Renzi's response was particularly energetic: "The EU wants to lower expenses for migrants in Italy: they open the doors and we lower expenses, instead of mouths they open their wallets". Not only that: the Premier even threatened to veto the EU budget in 2017 if the countries that resist the relocation of refugees do not change their attitude.
To try to mend this rift, Moscovici will meet the Italian Economy Minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, in a bilateral meeting on Friday in Bratislava. In any case, for the Frenchman, the letter "does not prejudge the result of the dialogue, it is a normal element" which reflects the fact that the EU has found "a gap" on the planned structural adjustment of the budget, compared to the objectives recommended by the European Council.
