Italy Draghi’s Meeting with US President Biden Set To Bolster Common Anti-Russia Transatlantic Energy Strategy – Italian Coalition Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s upcoming trip to the US will seek to bolster the anti-Russia transatlantic energy strategy as Italy takes on a leadership role in Europe in moving toward “gradual” independence from Russian oil and gas, said ruling coalition sources. On May 10 Draghi will meet with […]
Rome Coalition Sources Warn of Fallout from Possible Le Pen Victory for EU, NATO, Italy
Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – A potential victory in France of far-right presidential candidate Marie Le Pen would jeopardize prosperous Italy-France ties and boost Italy’s own far-right populists, warned Italian coalition sources. By extension, a Le Pen victory would weaken the European Union‘s integration process and NATO unity in opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin. The […]
Italy Expected To Place Two New US-Denominated Bonds in Q2 To Complete Yield Curve – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government plans to issue two more US dollar-denominated bonds in the second half of this year likely with medium-term maturities which would extend average debt maturities and consolidate Italy’s role as a frequent issuer on the US market, said ruling coalition sources. “Our plan, since we returned to […]
Italy Raises Pressure on EU To Cap Gas Import Prices, Ready to Adopt National Measures If EU Deal Is Delayed – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Rome’s government is raising pressure on European Union institutions to place a EU-wide cap on imported gas prices to shield families and business from an extraordinary spike in energy bills that is weakening the bloc’s economy, according to ruling coalition sources. The proposal faces opposition from Germany and Holland. […]
Italy To Raise Defense Budget To 2% of GDP, But EU Common Funding Needed – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s parliament is expected to clear on Thursday a defense budget increase to reach 2% of GDP following the Ukraine crisis, though the goal is to achieve at European level a common funding mechanism for military expenditures, according to ruling coalition sources. “We have pledged, as per NATO agreements […]
Rome Resumes Role On Euro-Atlantic Stage, Common Stance with US ‘Key’ In Ukraine Crisis Exit – Sources
–Ukraine’s Zelensky to address Italian lower house ROME (MaceNews) – Italy has resumed a ‘key role’ on the Euro-Atlantic stage in working on an exit from the Ukraine crisis after hosting the US-China meeting, according to sources comprising the ruling coalition. Monday’s meeting in Rome between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and top Chinese […]
As Italy Government Tackles Thorny Reforms, Cracks in Majority Weaken Support for Draghi – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Rome’s push to tackle thorny reforms is opening more cracks among governing coalition partners, undermining support for Prime Minister Mario Draghi at a time when the Ukraine crisis calls for unity, ruling party officials say. Draghi is trying to push through parliament fiscal reforms aimed at simplifying the tax […]
Ukraine War Expected to Speed Birth of EU Army – Italy Sources
–Plan would create EU rapid deployment force to cope with emergencies –Joint force aimed at supplementing NATO, boosting European military defense By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The Ukrainian crisis is bound to accelerate the creation of a European Union military force and move toward a common defense policy, which the EU now lacks, said […]
Italy Government May Revise Fiscal Outlook, Cut Growth Forecasts Due to Ukraine Crisis – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government could cut growth forecasts for this year and potentially raise deficit targets in the wake of the Ukraine crisis and its repercussions on the Italian economy, according to ruling coalition sources. “The extent of such impact is still to be fully weighed, but we might need to […]
Italy Lobbying EU To Keep Energy Out Of Sanctions Package Against Russia – Italy Government Sources
–Rome hopes any sanctions would unfold in stages, sees energy sanctions as ‘last resort’ given Italy’s dependence on Russian gas By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy is lobbying at the European level to exempt Russian energy exports from the European Union’s potential sanctions as Italy would end up paying the highest price, according to […]