27/01/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 27 January, Euro Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis confirmed that the European Commission expected the Italian government to unveil budget-saving measures by the end of the month equivalent to at least 0.2% of GDP in order to respect the Stability and Growth Pact, particularly the public debt rule. Failing this, Rome would risk the opening of a special infringement proceeding. Italian finance minister Pier Carlo Padoan said infringement proceedings would cause a big problem for the country’s reputation and be a U-turn on the work achieved thus far. Padoan said that the EU must not ignore the difficult situation his country is facing following the recent series of earthquakes and the never-ending arrival of large numbers of illegal immigrants. (MB)