Brussels, June 3 (LaPresse) – The excessive deficit procedure against Italy remains open, but the country has implemented “effective measures” to correct it. This is stated in the European Commission’s Spring 2026 European Semester package. Based on the Commission’s assessment of effective measures dated June 3, 2026, the excessive deficit procedure against Italy is suspended. The Council recommended the following maximum net expenditure growth rates: 1.3% in 2025, 1.6% in 2026, 1.9% in 2027, 1.7% in 2028 and 1.5% in 2029, corresponding to cumulative maximum growth rates calculated with reference to the 2023 base year of -0.7% in 2025, 0.9% in 2026, 2.8% in 2027, 4.6% in 2028 and 6.2% in 2029. For 2025–2026, these maximum net expenditure growth rates coincide with the corrective path, as recommended by the Council under Article 126(7) TFEU on January 21, 2025, in order to end the excessive spending situation. For Italy, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, the European Commission considered that effective measures have been taken to correct the excessive deficit. Therefore, at this stage no further measures are required under the EDP. For Italy, net expenditure growth in 2025 exceeded the recommended limits. However, on a cumulative basis, net expenditure growth in 2024–2025 was only marginally above the recommended limits, and Italy is expected to correct the excessive deficit in 2026, in line with the deadline set by the Council. For Member States benefiting from a seven-year fiscal adjustment period instead of four under their medium-term plans (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Romania and Finland), the Commission also assessed the implementation of key reform and investment commitments underpinning the extension, taking into account information provided in annual progress reports. Overall, the Commission considers that all Member States concerned have satisfactorily met their commitments.
EU, Italy remains under excessive deficit procedure
Brussels, June 3 (LaPresse) – The excessive deficit procedure against Italy remains open, but the country has implemented “effective measures” to correct it. This is stated in the European Commission’s Spring 2026 European Semester package. Based on the Commission’s assessment of effective measures dated June 3, 2026, the excessive deficit procedure against Italy is suspended. The Council recommended the following maximum net expenditure growth rates: 1.3% in 2025, 1.6% in 2026, 1.9% in 2027, 1.7% in 2028 and 1.5% in 2029, corresponding to cumulative maximum growth rates calculated with reference to the 2023 base year of -0.7% in 2025, 0.9% in 2026, 2.8% in 2027, 4.6% in 2028 and 6.2% in 2029. For 2025–2026, these maximum net expenditure growth rates coincide with the corrective path, as recommended by the Council under Article 126(7) TFEU on January 21, 2025, in order to end the excessive spending situation. For Italy, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, the European Commission considered that effective measures have been taken to correct the excessive deficit. Therefore, at this stage no further measures are required under the EDP. For Italy, net expenditure growth in 2025 exceeded the recommended limits. However, on a cumulative basis, net expenditure growth in 2024–2025 was only marginally above the recommended limits, and Italy is expected to correct the excessive deficit in 2026, in line with the deadline set by the Council. For Member States benefiting from a seven-year fiscal adjustment period instead of four under their medium-term plans (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Romania and Finland), the Commission also assessed the implementation of key reform and investment commitments underpinning the extension, taking into account information provided in annual progress reports. Overall, the Commission considers that all Member States concerned have satisfactorily met their commitments.
