"I was truly impressed by the Renzi government's reform plan: it is a structural change": this comment by Angela Merkel summarizes the positive outcome of this afternoon's meeting in Berlin between the German chancellor and the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who he confirmed that he has an "ambitious" plan of reforms and growth but respecting European constraints starting from 3% of the deficit on GDP.
Merkel, who wished the Italian prime minister "much luck and courage" also welcomed the respect of the 3% guaranteed by Renzi who, in turn, maintained that "Italy must stop thinking that reforms must be done because Brussels or Berlin asks us: we do them because they are right for us”, in the awareness that “Europe is not the cause of Italy's problems but the solution”.
Merkel then expressed appreciation on the Jobs Act while Renzi reaffirmed the full agreement between Italy and Germany on a critical but moderate line towards Russia for the Crimean referendum.
