“This Stability Pact welcomes Italy’s requests. And now on with the Mes”. Dombrovskis speaks

The focus on reforms and investments. “Debt repayment plans will be more gradual and credible, and member states will have more room for manoeuvre”. The bailout fund? “We would be happy if Italy ratified it, because it is blocking other measures”. Interview with the Vice-President of the Commission

It would be unrealistic to think that it could be used to end the ten-year guerrilla war between scrawny northerners and spendthrift southerners. And in fact Valdis Dombrovskis, with his usual measured attitude, a frugal Latvian even in his speech, limits himself to saying that “it is a balanced proposal”. The proposal is that of the EU Commission on the new Stability and Growth Pact. Which for Berlin, needless to say, is too loose: Finance Minister Lindner is already threatening the barricades. And for Italy? “I still don’t know how this new package of rules will be commented on,” continues the vice-president of the Commission. “But I am in constant contact with Minister Giorgetti, and I believe there are many elements that meet his expectations”. We get there. First, however, there is yet another slap on the Mes to be recorded in the minutes: “It is time to ratify”.