Safeguard clause, the EU: "Positive evaluation for Italy, no risk"

The Italian request to activate the national clause for defense and energy expenditure has received a first and important green light: "We received an activation request from Italy on 11 September and our assessment concluded that, in the case of Italy, the activation of the clause does not actually put fiscal sustainability at risk in the medium term. Our assessment is positive", a spokesperson for the European Commission said in the daily press briefing. "Now the file passes to the Council, which will have a month to give the definitive green light, only then can the clause be officially activated for Italy", he added.

Today the Eurogroup

Meanwhile, today, as mentioned, the Eurogroup is meeting. And, precisely with regard to the Italian position on the issue of inflation, a senior EU official yesterday said that from today's Eurogroup we expect "ministers to express their opinions" and that the issue of inflation also "emerges". The issue is "how to include" the measures adopted by most EU states on high energy costs within the fiscal rules. “It's a broader question: to what extent do we want to change our fiscal framework in response to every shock that comes along?” he added, underlining the theme of “credibility”. On inflation "I don't yet expect operational conclusions": first the Commission will have to form a position and the ministers will have to express their opinion".