With the country in recession, we remain cautious on Italian sovereign debt. But growing tensions inside the government could have a silver lining.The main leading indicators are pointing towards the recession continuing in Q1 2019 in Italy. We expect growth to move marginally back into the black in Q2 2019, with the Italian economy growing by 0.3% in 2019 overall. Even though we have ruled out a snap 2019 election from our central scenario, the chances of one being called are significant...
Read More »Italy and the EU: a debt-based excessive deficit procedure
European Commission deems Italy’s budget noncompliant with EU rules. This week, the European Commission issued its opinion on Italy’s budget plans. Deeming them noncompliant with the EU’s budgetary rules, it recommended that an Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) be opened.Of the options available to the EU, a debt-based EDP would be the most difficult for Italy to deal with, as it would last longer and require Italy to...
Read More »Italy and the EU: a debt-based excessive deficit procedure
European Commission deems Italy's budget noncompliant with EU rules.This week, the European Commission issued its opinion on Italy’s budget plans. Deeming them noncompliant with the EU’s budgetary rules, it recommended that an Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) be opened.Of the options available to the EU, a debt-based EDP would be the most difficult for Italy to deal with, as it would last longer and require Italy to ensure its debt stock diminishes at “a satisfactory pace”.On the positive...
Read More »Bumpy Road Ahead for Italian Budget
Rome’s budget plans put it on a collision course with the European Commission. The Italian government has submitted its 2019 draft budget plan (DBP) to the European Commission. The proposed DBP is not in line with European Union rules and sets the government on a collision course with the European authorities. Several elements within the Italian government’s budget plan have been raising eyebrows. First, the plans’...
Read More »Bumpy road ahead for Italian budget
Rome’s budget plans put it on a collision course with the European Commission.The Italian government has submitted its 2019 draft budget plan (DBP) to the European Commission. The proposed DBP is not in line with European Union rules and sets the government on a collision course with the European authorities.Several elements within the Italian government’s budget plan have been raising eyebrows. First, the plans’ economic assumptions seem too optimistic to us, and there is a risk that the...
Read More »Italian politics: habemus deal
Italy finally has a government, but its public finances are likely to be soon back in the spotlight.Following a spectacular U-turn, the Five Start Movement (MS5) and the League reached a deal to form a government under their original candidate for prime minister, Giuseppe Conte.Both parties agreed on a new finance minister, Giovanni Tria, while Paolo Savona, who was blocked by President Mattarella last Sunday, will be minister for EU affairs. M5S leader Di Maio will be minister for labour...
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