Tuesday

16th Apr 2024

Ticker

Italy cuts long-term budget deficit after EU criticism

Italy's budget deficit will be 2.4 percent in 2019, dropping to 2.1 percent in 2020 and 1.8 percent in 2021, prime minister Giuseppe Conte said after a government budget summit on Wednesday. The announcement appeared to ease concerns that Italy would break EU budget deficit rules with the major stock exchanges in Europe closing up 0.9 percent. The jobless rate would fall to as low as seven percent, Conte promised.

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EU puts Sudan war and famine-risk back in spotlight

The EU is hoping to put the international spotlight back on Sudan amid a war where half the population is at risk of famine. And Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, also warned of Russia's presence in the country.

Opinion

Private fears of fairtrade activist for EU election campaign

I am not sleeping well, tossing and turning at night because I am obsessed about the EU election campaign, worried by geopolitical tensions, a far-right next parliament, and a backlash against the Green Deal, writes Sophie Aujean of Fairtrade International.

Agenda

EU special summit, MEPs prep work, social agenda This WEEK

EU leaders gather in Brussels for a special two-day summit this week, while MEPs will prepare for the last plenary session of the legislature. In Italy, G7 foreign affairs ministers will convene from Wednesday to Friday.

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