Italy’s central bank warns against euro exit as election nears
Italy's central bank warned today (31 May) that leaving the eurozone would not solve the country's economic problems, as two major parties campaign to drop the common currency before an election that...
View ArticleFrance pledges to meet EU deficit target, despite strong headwinds
France will meet the EU deficit limit of 3.0% of GDP in 2017, the prime minister insisted Thursday (29 June), after the public accounts watchdog said it would miss the mark unless it took urgent action.
View ArticlePM says time to end France’s addiction to spending
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said on Tuesday (4 July) it was time to end France's addiction to easy public spending, promising to cut expenditures over the next five years and rein in debts he said...
View ArticleRomanian government backtracks from plan to tax companies’ turnover
Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said yesterday (17 July) his leftist-led government had scrapped a plan to tax companies' turnover.
View ArticleMacron praised as French economy powers ahead
The good news keeps coming for the French economy: data published yesterday (15 February) showed unemployment at its lowest level since 2009 while the head of the IMF praised recent reforms by...
View ArticleRussia’s economy: Still dependent on oil
After two years of recession caused by lower oil prices and western sanctions, Russia’s recovery benefits Vladimir Putin who is seeking a new term of office. However this improvement won’t last long...
View ArticleSpain pledges to ‘square the circle’ on public finances in Eurogroup debut
Spain's new Socialist government said on Thursday (21 June) it had “no reasons” to believe that it would miss its deficit target, despite a planned increase to pensioners’ benefits being questioned by...
View ArticleTurkish instability threatens Europe from the Italian flank
Market pressure, financial exposure and a potential review of a key migration deal with Ankara has made Italy the most vulnerable country to the recent financial turmoil in Turkey.
View ArticleItaly on collision course with EU over budget deficit
Party leaders in the Italian coalition government signalled they will seek leeway from the EU to increase next year's budget deficit, heading on a collision course with the European Commission and...
View ArticleItaly defies Brussels with budget deficit at 2.4%
Italy's government on Thursday (27 September) targeted the budget deficit at 2.4% of gross domestic product for the next three years, defying Brussels and marking a victory for party chiefs over...
View ArticleMoscovici slams Italy budget as stocks plunge
The European Union on Friday (28 September) issued a stern warning to Italy's populist leaders following their defiant pledge to increase spending and run a budget deficit that risks putting Rome on a...
View ArticleItaly dismisses concern the EU will reject its budget plan
The Italian government on Thursday (4 October) dismissed concerns that the European Commission would reject its plan to raise deficit spending next year and signalled that it would not backtrack, even...
View ArticleItaly coalition chiefs defiant on budget, forecast GDP growth
The leaders of Italy's ruling parties said on Tuesday (9 October) they would permit no change to the government's 2019 budget plan, despite financial market pressure and criticism from the country's...
View ArticleItalian populist government braces for EU budget rejection
The Italian government expects the European Commission to decide for the first time ever on Tuesday (23 October) to ask a member state to revise its draft budget, a government source said on Sunday.
View ArticleGermany proposes tough conditions for ‘European IMF’
Germany's plans for a "European Monetary Fund" to help eurozone states in difficulty would set strict eligibility criteria that shut out those who are failing to tackle high national debt.
View ArticleCommission: Italy, EU to work to bring views on 2019 budget closer together
Italy and the European Commission will work in the coming days to bring closer their positions on Italy's 2019 draft budget, which the EU executive says breaks EU laws by not reducing the country's...
View ArticleMacron announces financial concessions in bid to end ‘yellow vest’ revolt
Embattled French President Emmanuel Macron Monday (10 December) announced a series of financial measures seeking to defuse the "yellow vest" revolt that has triggered violent protests in cities across...
View ArticleItaly’s Conte admits defeat on budget, presents new plan to EU
Italy has admitted defeat and agreed to change its “beautiful” budget plan to avoid the opening of a disciplinary procedure against Rome.
View ArticleSalvini says Commission approved the Italian budget
Italy has done a deal with the European Commission over its contested 2019 budget, a spokeswoman at the Economy Ministry said on Tuesday (18 December), signaling an end to weeks of wrangling that had...
View ArticleGreek parliament approves first post-bailout budget
Greek lawmakers approved on Tuesday (18 December) the country's first post-bailout budget which projects a high primary surplus next year and sees a pick-up in economic growth.
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