With the maxi-amendment which tonight will be approved by the Senate, Italy's encore maneuver improves "in terms of clarity of budgetary instruments", because it is "possible to predict revenues more accurately". These are the words of Amadeu Altafaj, spokesman for the EU commissioner for economic and monetary affairs Olli Rehn: “We had recently asked for measures that would favor growth – he added -. Today we see elements that go in this direction. So we welcome what was announced by the Italian Government".
In recent days Altafaj he had criticized the previous version of the measure due to the excessive weight given to anti-avoidance measures, which by their nature produce revenue that is difficult to quantify. However, the steps forward towards greater transparency of balances should not make us forget the importance of the battle against tax evaders, which must "remain an important element of the package of measures, also for reasons of social equity, as citizens are asking".
Yesterday in the evening the European Commission had already commented positively on the new measures, which according to Brussels demonstrate "the determination to achieve the agreed objectives for the reduction of the deficit and debt" and contribute "to addressing the deeply rooted structural weaknesses of the Italian economy" . In this sense, the interventions most appreciated by Europe are the modification of the VAT rate, the raising of the retirement age for women in the private sector, the introduction of the balanced budget in the Constitution and the abolition of the Provinces.
