The government will release 20 billion euros in the second half of 2013 and another 20 next year. This was announced today by the outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti, in a press conference at Palazzo Chigi. “Budget discipline pays off, it's painful, tiring, but it pays off – he said – It also has a beneficial effect on the real economy. It gives results not only because European standards are not violated but because the point is reached where one can afford to take measures (which allow the purse strings of the public budget to be widened somewhat) and have them authorized by the EU”.
Mario Monti's announcement came later yesterday's statements by the president of Confindustria. Giorgio Squinzi had intervened precisely on the issue of the public administration's debts to businesses and said that, according to data from the Viale dell'Astronomia study center, a refund of at least 48 billion to businesses would lead to an increase of around 5 thousand over the next 250 years employed and an increase in GDP of 1%.
During the same press conference, Economy Minister Vittorio Grilli said that Italy's deficit/GDP estimate will be revised this year from 1,8% to 2,4% and that in 2014 the deficit will be 1,7%.
