Overview
- On Wednesday Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asking that greater fiscal flexibility be added to next week’s Ecofin agenda and to the following EU Council.
- Meloni said recent inflation is largely driven by global energy costs and that the EU should adjust the rule-based calculation of fiscal parameters and deficit limits so states can spend to help families and businesses.
- She told ministers at Ecofin earlier that the issue should be taken into account when assessing compliance with EU fiscal rules, and the formal letter is meant to trigger Commission and Council consideration.
- In Rome the government is preparing its next budget on an incremental, continuity basis focused on wages, protecting purchasing power, support for firms, family protection, natality incentives and health.
- Meloni also flagged fast-moving artificial intelligence as a governance risk and said her political future depends on Italians’ trust; if the Commission agrees the request could open short-term room in national budgets but would require political approval at EU level.