The Government aims to close the EU deficit procedure in 2026, clash over the maneuver

The Government sees the possibility of closing the European procedure for excessive deficit for Italy already on the basis of the 2026 budget results. This is what emerges from the Public Finance Programmatic Document (DPFP), sent to the Chambers together with the report on the budget deviation.

Possible stop to the European procedure

The document states that "if these trends were also confirmed in the European Commission's 2027 Spring Forecasts, it is believed that the conditions may exist for the Council to decide on the repeal of the Excessive Deficit Procedure for Italy on the basis of the final data for 2026". The assessment is linked to the analysis of compliance with the growth path of net spending and the use of national safeguard clauses for defense and energy.

Green light for Dpfp and deviation

The Council of Ministers yesterday approved the Prime Ministerial Decree and the report on the deviation, a preliminary step to the next Budget Law. The document updates the macroeconomic and public finance framework and defines the guidelines for the maneuver for the coming years.

Flexibility for 28 billion over the two-year period

The Government is asking the European Union for flexibility margins of around 14 billion euros for 2027 and 14 billion in 2028. This is 0.3% of GDP for defense and 0.3% for energy per year.

The political reactions

A harsh criticism of the document comes from the 5 Star Movement. The vice president of the party and economic manager Mario Turco considers the increase in defense spending "crazy" in a phase characterized by high debt, inflation and loss of purchasing power of families. The position of the Brothers of Italy is of the opposite sign. The president of the Senate Budget Commission, Nicola Calandrini, defines the Dpfp as a key step towards the maneuver and supports the Government's line, based on the control of public accounts, on support for families and businesses and on the use of the flexibility tools provided for by European rules.