EU CIVIL WAR: Italy BLOCKS Brussels budget rule change and DEMANDS cash for migrant crisis
ITALY has blocked a revision of the European Union’s budget rules after refusing to approve the changes at a meeting in Brussels.
African migrants arrive in Italy after being rescued in the Libyan Sea
Foreign ministers were hoping to back a change to the budget until 2020 but every member state needs to support the move and Italy has refused to do so saying not enough cash is being set aside to tackle the crippling migrant crisis which has had an enormous impact on the country.
A final decision on the revision has now been postponed until next year.
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Italy’s ambassador to the EU Maurizio Massari
Italy is not as yet in a position to withdraw its reservation on the proposal
Maurizio Massari, Italy’s ambassador to the EU, said: “Italy is not as yet in a position to withdraw its reservation on the proposal.”
Three months ago, the European Commission proposed reviewing the EU’s budget rules which date from 2013.
Officials wanted to add an extra £5billion until 2020 to fund the launch of a European coast guard and £2billion for job creation and youth programmes.
The impact of the migrant crisis on Italy has been immense
There were also plans to pump cash into the European Fund for Strategic Investments — the so-called Juncker fund — which aims to boost infrastructure and research spending across the bloc.
But Italy, which was thrown into crisis when Matteo Renzi was forced to quit as prime minister after losing a constitutional reform referendum, said the budget proposals did not do enough to tackle migration or reduce unemployment.
The decision was met with dismay by some countries who were keen to get the budget revisions signed off before the New Year.
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Slovakia’s foreign minister Miroslav Lajčák said: “We are very sorry about Italy’s stance.
“There is nothing we can do at this point. We have to wait for Italy to withdraw its expectations.
“The extra €6 billion would make it easier for the EU to react in a flexible way to unexpected needs.”
Homeless migrants sleeping rough near Rome's Tiburtina station
Diplomats suggested it was highly unlikely that Italy’s demands would be met.
Last month Italy abstained in a vote on the EU’s 2017 budget, arguing there was not enough funding dedicated to help Italy and other Mediterranean countries deal with the migration crisis.